Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured graphene-doped selenium

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Elemental selenium glass (g-Se) is a versatile material with unique properties.
• Graphene is a novel material with exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity.
• Understanding the interplay between graphene and g-Se is crucial for developing advanced nanocomposites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structural, electrical, dielectric, and thermal properties of graphene-doped selenium glass.
• To explore the impact of graphene incorporation on the glass transition and crystallization kinetics of g-Se.
• To elucidate the role of the graphene-selenium interface in modifying material characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Melt-quench technique for synthesizing graphene-doped g-Se.
• X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy for structural analysis.
• Electrical, dielectric, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements for property evaluation.

Main Results:

• Graphene-doped g-Se exhibits glass-ceramic behavior.
• Graphene incorporation increases dielectric constant and dielectric loss due to interface effects.
• Graphene doping influences the kinetics of glass transition and crystallization.

Conclusions:

• Graphene doping effectively modifies the properties of selenium glass, leading to glass-ceramic characteristics.
• The interface between graphene and g-Se plays a significant role in the observed electrical and dielectric enhancements.
• Graphene incorporation impacts the thermal phase transitions of selenium glass, providing a pathway for tuning material behavior.