Synthesis and Characterization of Co₃O₄-Graphene Nanocomposites via Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids: Insights into Optical, Structural, and Morphological Properties
نویسندگان
1 Department of Laser Physics, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
2 Department of Laser Physics, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
3 Department of Laser Physics, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
doi
10.22052/JNS.2025.04.035چکیده
This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄), graphene, and their nanocomposites (Co₃O₄-graphene) using pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL). The nanomaterials were prepared by ablating solid targets of Co₃O₄ and graphene in deionized water under varying laser pulse conditions (300, 500, and 1000 pulses). UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed characteristic absorption edges and tunable energy gaps, with direct band gaps ranging from 1.5 eV to 2.0 eV and indirect band gaps from 2.25 eV to 2.65 eV, highlighting the influence of graphene incorporation on electronic properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of the materials, with average crystallite sizes of 1.53 nm for Co₃O₄ and 1.72 nm for graphene. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated spherical nanostructures with homogeneous distributions and reduced surface roughness in composite films. These findings underscore the potential of Co₃O₄-graphene nanocomposites for applications in optoelectronics, gas sensing, and energy-related technologies. The PLAL method proved to be an effective and versatile technique for tailoring the properties of nanomaterials with precision.
