In-situ synthesis and characterization of reduced graphene oxide –Ag nanocomposites

Reduced graphene oxide(rGO)–silver(Ag) nanocomposites have been prepared by using solution based facile one-pot synthesis process. The reaction process involves high-temperature liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite oxide and silver acetate in presence of N-N’dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent, resulting in simultaneous formation of rGO as well as Ag nanoparticles. Different nanocomposites have been prepared by varying the ratio of graphite oxide and Ag ions during the reaction. The crystal structure, chemical structure, morphology, and photoluminescence properties have been investigated by using powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Photo Luminescence (PL) spectroscopy techniques respectively. The microscopic studies reveal a uniform distribution of silver nanoparticles of size ~ 200 nm on to graphene layers. Further, average defect distance in the graphene layers was estimated to be 11 nm from Raman peak ratio in these nanocomposites. These nanocomposites showed luminescent emission around 410 nm and intensity of emission enhanced significantly for the nanocomposites comprising more silver nanoparticles, which may be due to resonant energy transfer between Ag metal and rGO.