ABSTRACT
We have performed a systematic study resulting in detailed information on the structural, electronic and optical properties of the cubic (Pm3¯m) and tetragonal (P4mm) phases of PbTiO3 applying the GGA/PBE approximation with and without the Hubbard U potential correction. Through the variation in Hubbard potential values, we establish band gap predictions for the tetragonal phase of PbTiO3 that are in rather good agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, the bond lengths for both phases of PbTiO3 were assessed with experimental measurements, confirming the validity of our model, while chemical bond analysis highlights the covalent nature of the Ti-O and Pb-O bonds. In addition, the study of the optical properties of the two phases of PbTiO3, by applying Hubbard' U potential, corrects the systematic inaccuracy of the GGA approximation, as well as validating the electronic analysis and offering excellent concordance with the experimental results. Therefore, our results underline that the GGA/PBE approximation with the Hubbard U potential correction could be an effective method for obtaining reliable band gap predictions with moderate computational cost. Therefore, these findings will enable theorists to make use of the precise values of these two phases' gap energies to enhance PbTiO3's performance for new applications.
ABSTRACT
In this work, the effects of graphene oxide (GO) concentrations (1.5 wt.%, 2.5 wt.%, and 5 wt.%) on the structural, morphological, optical, and luminescence properties of zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs)/GO nanocomposites, synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process, were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of NRs revealed the hexagonal wurtzite structure for all composites with an average coherence length of about 40-60 nm. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study confirmed the presence of transparent and wrinkled, dense GO nanosheets among flower-like ZnO nanorods, depending on the GO amounts used in preparation. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements revealed the impact of GO concentration on the optical and luminescence properties of ZnO NRs/GO nanocomposites. The energy band gap of the ZnO nanorods was independent of GO concentration. Photoluminescence spectra of nanocomposites showed a significant decrease in the intensities in the visible light range and red shifted suggesting a charge transfer process. The nanocomposites' chromaticity coordinates for CIE 1931 color space were estimated to be (0.33, 0.34), close to pure white ones. The obtained results highlight the possibility of using these nanocomposites to achieve good performance and suitability for optoelectronic applications.
