Local structural investigations of graphitic ZnO and reduced graphene oxide composite

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) assisted two-dimensional (2D) graphitic ZnO (gZnO) have been prepared and characterized by Raman, FTIR, Cross-sectional high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques comprising of X-ray near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. Raman spectroscopy and FTIR measurements suggest formation of ZnO and the same has been corroborated by XANES measurements. HRTEM and polarization dependent XANES measurements with two different sample orientations confirm the formation of gZnO/rGO sandwiched layers. Density Functional Theory simulated relaxed initial structure of bilayers of gZnO sandwiched between successive rGO layers fits the EXAFS data reasonably well, supported by formation energy calculations which indicate better stability for samples having bilayers to a few layers of gZnO between rGO layers than with monolayer. These relaxed structures also help to understand the electronic structure contributing in XANES spectrum, with the help of ligand field theory.

Automated summary

In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) assisted two-dimensional graphitic ZnO (gZnO) was prepared and characterized using various techniques, confirming the formation of gZnO/rGO sandwiched layers. The relaxed structures of bilayers of gZnO sandwiched between rGO layers were found to have better stability and electronic structure, as supported by XANES and EXAFS measurements.