The effect of graphene layers on the growth of vanadium oxide nanostructures: Structural, morphological and optical investigations and mechanisms revelation

¹University Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, Faculty of Sciences Dhar el Mahraz, Laboratory of Solid state Physics,
Group of Nanomaterials and Renewable Energies, PO Box 1796 Atlas Fez, 30000, Morocco

²University of South Africa, Department of Physics, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Science Campus, Cnr Christiaan de Wet & Pioneer Avenue Florida 1709, Johannesburg, South Africa

³Africa Graphene Center, 2 Boekenhout street, Florida, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa

⁴Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West 7129, PO Box 722, Somerset West, Western Cape-South Africa

⁵UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria - South Africa

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2017, 8 (3), pp 276-282

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2017.1440

Publication Date (Web): Jan 28, 2017

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: khenfouch@yahoo.fr

Abstract

Most recently, Vanadium oxide nanoparticles/reduced Graphene oxide (VO-NPs/rGO) nanocomposite have attracted extensive attention due to their potential applications in energy-related areas. Hence, understanding the interactions on behalf the effect of graphene layers on the modification of VO-NPs properties as well as their growth mechanism are of great importance. In this work, our results are revealing that VO-NPs were efficiently grown and coated on the graphene surface and are clearly showing the strong effect of rGO layers on the growth of VO-NPs which leads to a modification in the form, the shape and also the phase. These interactions which were studied based on structural and morphological investigations will play an important role on the modification of these nanocomposites properties which is suitable for a wide range of potential applications and particularly as electrode in Li-ion batteries.

Keywords

Vanadium oxide, graphene, growth mechanism, nanocomposites.