Microplasma-Enabled Graphene Quantum Dot-Wrapped Gold Nanoparticles with Synergistic Enhancement for Broad Band Photodetection

Abstract

Plasmonic nanostructure/semiconductor nanohybrids offer many opportunities for emerging electronic and optoelectronic device applications because of their unique geometries in the nanometer scale and material properties. However, the development of a simple and scalable synthesis of plasmonic nanostructure/semiconductor nanohybrids is still lacking. Here, we report a direct synthesis of colloidal gold nanoparticle/graphene quantum dot (Au@GQD) nanohybrids under ambient conditions using microplasmas and their application as photoabsorbers for broad band photodetectors (PDs). Due to the unique AuNP core and graphene shell nanostructures in the synthesized Au@GQD nanohybrids, the plasmonic absorption of the AuNP core extends the usable spectral range of the photodetectors. It is demonstrated that the Au@GQD-based visible light photodetector simultaneously possesses an extraordinary photoresponsivity of ∼10 3 A/W, ultrahigh detectivity of 10 13 Jones, and fast response time in the millisecond scale (65 ms rise time and 53 ms fall time). We suggest that the synergistic effect can be attributed to the strong fluorescence quenching in Au@GQD coupled with the two-dimensional graphene layer in the device. This work provides knowledge of tailoring the optical absorption in GQDs with plasmonic AuNPs and the corresponding photophysics for broad band response in PD-related devices.

CVD-Grown 2D Nonlayered NiSe as a Broadband Photodetector

“…Two-dimensional (2D) materials have broad application prospects in the fields of nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, and energy conversion and storage due to their unique physical and chemical properties, such as atomic-scale thickness and ideal bandgap structures [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Within them, 2D layered materials have been the most widely studied in recent years owing to the in-plane atoms bonded by strong covalent or ionic bonds and interlayers bonded by weak van der Waals forces, and their smooth surface without chemical dangling bonds, exhibiting excellent electrical, optical and mechanical properties [11][12][13][14].…”

Graphene Quantum Dots by Eco-Friendly Green Synthesis for Electrochemical Sensing: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

“…Dager et al [ 33 ] have recently performed a synthesis of graphene nanoparticles using a one-step decomposition process, enhanced by microwave plasma. In a recent bottom-up method, Wu et al [ 68 ] developed a synthetic alternative to GQDs for sensing applications by using microplasma, an innovative method in which the starting material is represented by fructose. Microplasma has already been used for the synthesis of semiconductor materials, electronic materials, or aerosols, but never for the synthesis of carbon-based quantum dots.…”

Toward Green Optoelectronics: Environmental-Friendly Colloidal Quantum Dots Photodetectors

“…Another type of the core-shell structure was introduced by Thakur et al (2020) with the hybrid structure of Au nanoparticles at the core and GQDs at the outer shell (Au@GQD) using microplasmas. Upon the illumination of light, the Au@GQD core-shell structure absorbed light and photogenerated holes were transported to the graphene layer and ultimately collected at the electrodes, leading to an increase in the photocurrent compared to the structure of with only Au@ GQDs (Figure 5E).…”