Nanowire-modified graphene and methods of making and using same
A transparent electrode can include a graphene sheet on a substrate, a layer including a conductive polymer disposed over the graphene sheet, and a plurality of semiconducting nanowires, such as ZnO nanowires, disposed over the layer including the conductive polymer.
1. A transparent electrode comprising:
a graphene sheet on a substrate;
an interlayer including a conductive polymer disposed over the graphene sheet wherein the interlayer includes a polythiophene, the interlayer modifying the graphene to enhance chemical compatibility between the graphene and a semiconducting nanowire while maintaining the graphene's electrical and structural properties; and
a plurality of semiconducting nanowires disposed over the interlayer.
2. The transparent electrode of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of semiconducting nanowires are substantially parallel to one another.
3. The transparent electrode of claim 2 , wherein the long axes of plurality of semiconducting nanowires are substantially perpendicular to the graphene sheet.
4. The transparent electrode of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of semiconducting nanowires comprise ZnO.
5. A device comprising the transparent electrode of claim 1 , further comprising a photoactive material disposed over the plurality of semiconducting nanowires.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the photoactive material includes semiconductor nanocrystals or P3HT.
7. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a second electrode deposited over the photoactive material.
8. A method of making a transparent electrode comprising:
providing a graphene sheet on a substrate;
depositing an interlayer including a conductive polymer disposed over the graphene sheet wherein the interlayer includes a polythiophene; and
growing a plurality of semiconducting nanowires over the interlayer and modifying the graphene to enhance chemical compatibility between the graphene and a semiconducting nanowire while maintaining the graphene's electrical and structural properties.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein depositing the interlayer includes spin-casting.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein growing the plurality of semiconducting nanowires over the interlayer includes a hydrothermal deposition.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of semiconducting nanowires comprise ZnO.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the interlayer includes a polythiophene derivative.
13. A method of making a device including the method of claim 8 , further comprising depositing a photoactive material disposed over the plurality of semiconducting nanowires.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the photoactive material includes semiconductor nanocrystals or P3HT.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising depositing a second electrode over the photoactive material.
16. A photovoltaic device comprising
a graphene sheet on a substrate;
an interlayer including a conductive polymer disposed over the graphene sheet wherein the interlayer includes a polythiophene, the interlayer modifying the graphene to enhance chemical compatibility between the graphene and a semiconducting nanowire while maintaining the graphene's electrical and structural properties; and
a plurality of semiconducting nanowires disposed over the interlayer.
17. The photovoltaic device of claim 16 , further comprising a photoactive material disposed over the plurality of semiconducting nanowires.
18. The photovoltaic device of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of semiconducting nanowires comprise ZnO.
19. A method of generating electricity, comprising illuminating the photovoltaic device of claim 16 .