Enhanced photoactivity and conductivity in transparent TiO2 nanocrystals/graphene hybrid anodesThe manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript.Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: UV-vis absorption and ATR-FTIR spectra and TEM micrographs of OLEA- and PBA-coated TiO2 NCs. SEM and AFM images of CVD graphene transferred onto SiO2/Si. EIS Nyquist plots of ITO electrodes modified with monolayer g

• Main Authors: Ingrosso, C, Bianco, G. V, Pifferi, V, Guffanti, P, Petronella, F, Comparelli, R, Agostiano, A, Striccoli, M, Palchetti, I, Falciola, L, Curri, M. L, Bruno, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 16.05.2017
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ta01425b

An optically transparent and UV-light active anode, characterized by high (photo)conductivity, charge mobility and exciton lifetime, based on graphene, grown by CVD, decorated with colloidal TiO 2 nanocrystals (NCs), has been fabricated, by a direct and facile solution-based procedure. TiO 2 NCs anchor onto graphene by means of π-π stacking interactions occurring between the pyrene-1-butyric acid (PBA) surface coating ligand and the 2-D platform and assemble in a highly interconnected multilayered layout, by means of interligand π-π forces, retaining composition and geometry, along with the graphene structure. Remarkably, the PBA-coated TiO 2 NCs on the graphene increase its electrical conductivity, electroactivity, and capacitive behavior, as well as photoelectrical response under UV-light, resulting in a 50% enhanced photoelectroactivity and a long exciton recombination lifetime. The photoanodes can be integrated into solar cells as optically transparent electrodes, in photodetectors, FETs and (bio)sensors. An optically transparent and UV-light active anode, characterized by high (photo)conductivity, charge mobility and exciton lifetime, based on CVD graphene, decorated with colloidal TiO 2 nanocrystals, has been fabricated, by a solution-based procedure.