Synthesis and luminescence of ceria decorated graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Evolution of band gap

ABSTRACT

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and CeO₂-GQDs were synthesized by using a facile hydrothermal method at 140°C. All the synthesized materials were characterized by TEM, UV-Vis Spectroscopy, FT-IR, Raman Spectroscopy and PL. Ceria decorated GQDs show different emission peaks with different excitation of wavelengths. The discrete change in dominant luminescence features of the GQDs and their composites indicate that the variation in PL occurs because of alteration in its shape, size and bandgap. Based on the experimental results of PL peak wavelength, the emission is attributed to quasi-molecular PL from the fragments composed of a few aromatic rings with oxygen containing functional groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Graphene quantum dots
• photoluminescence
• cerium groups
• FT-IR

Acknowledgments

The authors thank to Nishant Kharangarh and Aruna Sharma for the useful discussion.

Funding

This work was financially supported by Dr. DSKPDF, UGC, India.