Enhanced photoactivity and conductivity in transparent TiO2 nanocrystals/graphene hybrid anodes

An optically transparent and UV-light active anode, characterized by high (photo)conductivity, charge mobility and exciton lifetime, based on graphene, grown by CVD, decorated with colloidal TiO2 nanocrystals (NCs), has been fabricated, by a direct and facile solution-based procedure. TiO2 NCs ancho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2017-05, Vol.5 (19), p.9307-9315
Main Authors: Ingrosso, C, Bianco, G V, Pifferi, V, Guffanti, P, Petronella, F, Comparelli, R, Agostiano, A, Striccoli, M, Palchetti, I, Falciola, L, Curri, M L, Bruno, G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anchors
Anodes
Electroactivity
Electrodes
Graphene
Nanocrystals
Stacking
Titanium dioxide
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Summary:An optically transparent and UV-light active anode, characterized by high (photo)conductivity, charge mobility and exciton lifetime, based on graphene, grown by CVD, decorated with colloidal TiO2 nanocrystals (NCs), has been fabricated, by a direct and facile solution-based procedure. TiO2 NCs anchor onto graphene by means of pi - pi stacking interactions occurring between the pyrene-1-butyric acid (PBA) surface coating ligand and the 2-D platform and assemble in a highly interconnected multilayered layout, by means of interligand pi - pi forces, retaining composition and geometry, along with the graphene structure. Remarkably, the PBA-coated TiO2 NCs on the graphene increase its electrical conductivity, electroactivity, and capacitive behavior, as well as photoelectrical response under UV-light, resulting in a 50% enhanced photoelectroactivity and a long exciton recombination lifetime. The photoanodes can be integrated into solar cells as optically transparent electrodes, in photodetectors, FETs and (bio)sensors.
ISSN:2050-7488
2050-7496
DOI:10.1039/c7ta01425b