Multifunctional Metal‐oxide Integrated Monolayer Graphene Heterostructures for Planar, Flexible, and Skin‐mountable Device Applications

Abstract

The adoption of nanostructured metal-oxides integrated graphene monolayers-based heterostructures appears to be a promising approach for enhancing the performance of various devices. However, precisely controlled growth of such unique heterostructures without disturbing the monolayer graphene characteristics remains a challenging task especially over a large area with good uniformity. Herein, ultrathin metal-oxide (p-Co3O4 and n-ZnO) nanostructures (MONSs) integrated graphene monolayer (GML) heterostructures are carefully developed by fascinating the graphene native defects while nucleation and growth of MONSs. Metal-oxides integrated graphene monolayers with lower material densities (≤ 30 μg/cm2) significantly enhanced the quality (2D/G ~5–9) and reduced the electrical resistance (11–17 Ω/sq.) of graphene layers, whereas the heterostructures developed with higher densities possess predominant water-oxidation characteristics than that of their individual components. Further, the Co3O4/GML heterostructures-based micro-supercapacitors, fabricated over 25 µm polyimide sheets, showed excellent mechanical stability and flexibility with a volumetric and specific capacitance of 7.76 F/cm3 and 1.27 F/g, respectively. The ZnO/GML heterostructures designed over micron thick parylene film displayed exciting photoresistor characteristics with photosensitivity of ~1.54 and superb flexibility and skin-mountability. Synergistic multifunctional characteristics of these ultrathin heterostructures offer the possibility to realize various eco-friendly ultrathin as well as skin-mountable energy and health monitoring devices. © 2021