Performance optimization of silicon-doped titanium dioxide and multiwalled carbon nanotubes tricomposite nanostructures for electrical and optical applications

Combination nanostructures of metal, semiconductor oxides and carbon materials pursued well in optical and electrical devices. Here we report an experimental study on fabrication and characterization of tricomposite nanostructure of silicon-doped titanium dioxide [Si(x)TiO2(1-x)] and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The tricomposite of varying concentration (x) of silicon in TiO2 [Si(x)TiO2(1-x)] while keeping the concentration of MWCNTs constant were prepared using conventional chemical method. The concentration of Si in TiO2 was decided by Maxwell Garnett model using volume filling factor 'f' (0 <= f <= 1)]) of Si in TiO2. It has been shown that fabricated tricomposite nanostructure possesses typical nanoflower shape. The UV-Vis spectrum is found to be such that as the value of 'f' increases, spectrum shifted towards red and hence bandgap increases. This bandgap shifting was also confirmed using photoluminescence measurements. All the prepared MWCNTs:Si(x)TiO2(1-x) tricomposite nanostructures were then employed for cyclic voltammetry (CV) as well as for optical applications. The optimize values of specific capacitance, quantum efficiency, responsivity and detectivity, i.e. 3.9 x 10(3) F/g, 0.18 A/W, 27 AW(-1) nm(-1) and 3.75 x 10(13) Jones respectively are found to be unrivaled in comparison to the reported ones. The fabricated device also possesses additional advantages like immunity to electromagnetic interference, low cost.

Automated summary

This study reports on the fabrication and characterization of tricomposite nanostructures of silicon-doped titanium dioxide and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The fabricated nanostructures possess typical nanoflower shape and show an increase in bandgap with increasing silicon concentration. The tricomposite nanostructures exhibit superior performance in specific capacitance, quantum efficiency, responsivity, and detectivity compared to reported data.