Electrophoretic deposition of zinc oxide on graphite drawn on paper

Abstract

Flexible substrates have many promising applications in sensing, electronics, and electromagnetic shielding and energy storage among many others. Paper can serve as substrate for these kinds of technologies offering a cheaper alternative. In this study, Zinc oxide (ZnO) was successfully deposited on graphite drawn on paper using electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Graphite from commercially-available pencil was drawn on paper. Graphite drawn on paper was used as electrodes for the EPD process. High-voltage power supply was used as source while ground ZnO in acetone was used as suspension in the deposition process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results reveal the deposition of ZnO on Graphite. In addition, the electrical contact of the ZnO-graphite interface showed Ohmic behaviour by two-point probe method.