Strong light scattering and broadband (UV to IR) photoabsorption in stretchable 3D hybrid architectures based on Aerographite decorated by ZnO nanocrystallites.
In present work, the nano- and microscale tetrapods from zinc oxide were integrated on the surface of Aerographite material (as backbone) in carbon-metal oxide hybrid hierarchical network via a simple and single step magnetron sputtering process. The fabricated hybrid networks are characterized for morphology, microstructural and optical properties. The cathodoluminescence investigations revealed interesting luminescence features related to carbon impurities and inherent host defects in zinc oxide. Because of the wide bandgap of zinc oxide and its intrinsic defects, the hybrid network absorbs light in the UV and visible regions, however, this broadband photoabsorption behavior extends to the infrared (IR) region due to the dependence of the optical properties of ZnO architectures upon size and shape of constituent nanostructures and their doping by carbon impurities. Such a phenomenon of broadband photoabsorption ranging from UV to IR for zinc oxide based hybrid materials is novel. Additionally, the fabricated network exhibits strong visible light scattering behavior. The developed Aerographite/nanocrystalline ZnO hybrid network materials, equipped with broadband photoabsorption and strong light scattering, are very promising candidates for optoelectronic technologies.
National Center for Materials Study and Testing, Technical University of Moldova, Block 1, Bulevardul Stefan cel Mare si Sfînt 168, Chisinău 2004, Moldova.|Institute of Electronic Engineering and Nanotechnologies, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Stefan cel Mare av. 1, MD-2001 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
Ion
I
Tiginyanu
National Center for Materials Study and Testing, Technical University of Moldova, Block 1, Bulevardul Stefan cel Mare si Sfînt 168, Chisinău 2004, Moldova.|Institute of Electronic Engineering and Nanotechnologies, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Stefan cel Mare av. 1, MD-2001 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
Lidia
L
Ghimpu
Functional Nanomaterials, Institute for Materials Science, Kiel University, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143 Kiel, Germany.
Jorit
J
Gröttrup
National Center for Materials Study and Testing, Technical University of Moldova, Block 1, Bulevardul Stefan cel Mare si Sfînt 168, Chisinău 2004, Moldova.|Institute of Electronic Engineering and Nanotechnologies, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Stefan cel Mare av. 1, MD-2001 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
Vitalie
V
Postolache
Institute of Polymers and Composites, Hamburg University of Technology, Denickestr. 15, D-21073 Hamburg, Germany.
Matthias
M
Mecklenburg
School of Physics, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052 Sydney, Australia.
Marion A
MA
Stevens-Kalceff
National Center for Materials Study and Testing, Technical University of Moldova, Block 1, Bulevardul Stefan cel Mare si Sfînt 168, Chisinău 2004, Moldova.|Institute of Electronic Engineering and Nanotechnologies, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Stefan cel Mare av. 1, MD-2001 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
Veaceslav
V
Ursaki
Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nader
N
Payami
Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Robert
R
Feidenhansl
Institute of Polymers and Composites, Hamburg University of Technology, Denickestr. 15, D-21073 Hamburg, Germany.
Karl
K
Schulte
Functional Nanomaterials, Institute for Materials Science, Kiel University, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143 Kiel, Germany.
Rainer
R
Adelung
Functional Nanomaterials, Institute for Materials Science, Kiel University, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143 Kiel, Germany.
Yogendra Kumar
YK
Mishra