Significance of Hydroxyl Groups on the Optical Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Combined with CNT and PEDOT:PSS
Keshav Nagpal, Erwan Rauwel, Elias Estephan, M.R. Soares, Protima Rauwel
Abstract
We report on the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and their hybrids consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). A non-aqueous sol-gel route along with hydrated and anhydrous acetate precursors were selected for their syntheses. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed their spherical shape with an average size of 5 nm. TEM also confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO-CNT and ZnO-PEDOT:PSS hybrid nanocomposites. In fact, the choice of precursors has a direct influence on the chemical and optical properties of the ZnO-based nanomaterials. The ZnO nanoparticles prepared with anhydrous acetate precursor contained a high amount of oxygen vacancies, which tend to degrade the polymer macromolecule, as confirmed from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, a relative increase in hydroxyl functional groups in the ZnO-CNT samples was observed. These functional groups were instrumental in the successful decoration of CNT and in producing the defect-related photoluminescence emission in ZnO-CNT.