Synthesis of ZnO-graphene nanocomposite by chemical co-precipitation method and its structural characterizations

Abstract

A series of ZnO-Graphene nanocomposites were synthesized by a simple and low-cost chemical co-precipitation method. GO was synthesized by using modified Hummers method. Zinc salt and graphene oxide (GO) of different mass ratios (3:1, 3:2 and 3:3 GO to Zn) were used as precursors in de-ionized water. Further the structural characterizations of the prepared samples were done by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible Spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. FTIR studies confirmed the formation of graphene oxide with different oxygen containing functional groups. Raman studies confirmed that the samples have characteristic Raman modes D band, G band and 2D band in the range of 1340-1358 cm-1, 1577-1583 cm-1, and 2717-2722 cm-1 respectively. The XRD analysis has revealed that the synthesized ZnO-graphene nanocomposites have the typical peaks at ~26° and ~43°of graphene. UV-vis spectrum studies showed a slight increase in the energy band-gaps of ZnO-Graphene nanocomposites calculated by using Tauc plot.