Novel approach to enhance light absorption of porphyrin/graphene oxide composites by PH and concentration modification for energy applications

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) decorated with nanostructured porphyrin (PN) was synthesized and the interfacial interaction between these two components were investigated by using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray, and UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy. These techniques showed good dispersion of GO and PN as well as a π-π intermolecular interaction confirming the energy/charge transfer. Moreover, X-ray diffraction study confirmed the intercalation of PN in GO and their disaggregation. The UV-Visible results showed an important interaction between GO and porphyrin nanorods under different pH values and concentrations resulting in the enhancement of optical absorption of GO-PN. The findings presented here are important to achieve the functionalization of graphene oxide with PN for various optoelectronic applications.