Enhanced photovoltaic effect of ruthenium complex-modified graphene oxide with P-type conductivity

Abstract A graphene oxide nanocomposite with bis(1,10-phenanthroline)(N-(2-aminoethyl)-4-(4-methyl-2,2-bipyridine-4-yl)formamide) ruthenium (Ru(phen) 2 (bpy-NH 2 )(PF 6 ) 2 ), a ruthenium complex, was synthesized by amidation reaction between amino group of the ruthenium complex and carboxyl group of GO. The as-prepared Ru(II)–GO composite was characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, surface photovoltage (SPV) spectrum and transient photovoltage (TPV) technology. This nanocomposite showed a typical p-type character and an enhanced photovoltaic effect at long timescale of about 3 × 10 −3  s compared to GO alone. A reversible rise/decay of the photocurrent in response to the on/off illumination step was also observed in a photoelectrochemical cell of the Ru(II)–GO composite. The photocurrent response of the Ru(II)–GO film was remarkably higher than that of GO film. Therefore, this Ru(II)–GO composite is believed to be a promising p-type photoelectric conversion material for further photovoltaic applications.