Silver vanadate and cerium oxide decorated graphene oxide ternary heterostructure nanocomposites: structural, electrochemical, and optoelectrical properties

Abstract

In the present work, we synthesized a novel ternary heterostructure nanocomposite comprising Silver Vanadate and Cerium Oxide Decorated Graphene Oxide (AgVO3-CeO2/GO) using a straightforward and cost-effective method. Six samples, including GO, CeO2, CeO2/GO, AgVO3, AgVO3/GO, and CeO2-AgVO3/GO, were prepared. The structural, morphological, electrochemical, and optoelectrical properties of these samples were thoroughly investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated the presence of graphene oxide, cerium oxide, and silver vanadate phases, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the single crystalline nature of AgVO3 and the dispersion of CeO2 and AgVO3 nanoparticles within the GO matrix. The heterojunctions between different components facilitated efficient charge transfer and enhanced optoelectronic performance. External quantum efficiency was measured using a 532 nm laser beam, and the electrical properties were evaluated under dark and illuminated conditions with a two-point probe setup. The inclusion of CeO2 and AgVO3 nanoparticles in the GO matrix improved charge transport and interfacial charge transfer processes. These findings highlight the potential of these materials for various optoelectronic applications, including photodetection, sensing, and energy harvesting, with further optimization potentially leading to high-performance devices with enhanced functionality and efficiency.