Modified interfaces of twisted root-like 2D configured ZnO hierarchical nanostructures through surface lattice coating of NiO/graphene and their enhanced UV photodetection properties

Abstract The formation of edges in 2D configured nanomaterials are special sites which possess different arrangements of atoms and properties compared to that of plain nanomaterials. Herein, a novel strategy is used to synthesize the self-assembled 2D configured edges with twisted building blocks of glucose reduced graphene oxide (grGO)-incorporated NiO-coated ZnO NRs via soft chemical route. It is envisioned that the present hierarchical nanostructures will stimulate the performances of UV photodetection due to these combinations of materials. The as-prepared samples such as ZnO nanorods (NRs), NiO-ZnO NRs, grGO-ZnO NRs and grGO-incorporated NiO-ZnO NRs are designed using Ag interdigitated electrodes. Remarkably, the as-fabricated grGO-incorporated NiO-ZnO NRs shows enhanced photodetection properties when compared to those of bare ZnO NRs, NiO-ZnO NRs and grGO-ZnO. Especially, the grGO-incorporated NiO-ZnO NRs photodetector exhibits the highest UV on/off ratio of 3 ×104 which is ~60 times better than that of bare ZnO NRs photodetector. The results reveal that the development of p-n junction along grGO coating at the surface of NiO-ZnO enhances the relaxation dynamics of ZnO NRs by reducing the photocarriers contact with O2 species due to surface passivation. The present grGO-NiO-ZnO photodetectors might opening up a new opportunities for future optoelectronic devices.