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Flexible photodetector based on cotton coated with reduced graphene oxide and sulfur and nitrogen co-doped graphene quantum dots

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Abstract

Here, we demonstrate a high-performance flexible photodetector based on S and N co-doped graphene quantum dots (S,N-GQDs)-modified reduced graphene oxide (rGO) film for wearable applications. To fabricate the hybrid photodetector, S,N-GQDs are simply sprayed on rGO-coated cotton substrate that is fabricated through a vacuum filtration process. Owing to the synergistic effect of S, N-GQDs and rGO, high responsivity (0.2–1.25 A W−1) and detectivity (3.86 × 1010 J) at a low operating voltage are achieved in the broad spectral range from UV to near infrared. The underlying mechanism is attributed to the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes due to the charge transfer caused by the appropriate band between S,N-GQDs and rGO. Furthermore, the large absorptivity of S,N-GQDs and the excellent conductivity of the rGO also play significant roles. The attributes of flexibility, high detectivity, and sensitivity of our novel flexible photodetector indicate promising potential for future wearable optoelectronic devices.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the Financial support by Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51603037), the Shanghai Natural Science Foundation (15ZR1401200), the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning, Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader (16XD1400100), Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (16JC1400700), Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (2017-01-07-00-03-E00055), and the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (No. 111-2-04). Dr. Chengyi Hou thanks the Shanghai ChenGuang Program (15CG33), the Shanghai Natural Science Foundation (16ZR1401500), the Shanghai Sailing Program (16YF1400400), and Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST (2017QNRC001). Cheng Luo thanks the Donghua University Master Innovation Fund Program.

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Author notes

  1. Cheng Luo and He Xie have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People’s Republic of China

    Cheng Luo, He Xie, Chengyi Hou & Hongzhi Wang

  2. Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People’s Republic of China

    Qinghong Zhang & Yaogang Li

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  1. Cheng Luo
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  2. He Xie
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Correspondence to Chengyi Hou.

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Luo, C., Xie, H., Hou, C. et al. Flexible photodetector based on cotton coated with reduced graphene oxide and sulfur and nitrogen co-doped graphene quantum dots. J Mater Sci 54, 3242–3251 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-3088-4

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