Effect of Gadolinium on Electrical Properties of Polyethyleneimine Functionalized and Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dot Nanocomposite Based Diode

Abstract

Carbon, especially graphene quantum dots (GQDs) based electronics have become an attractive technology in recent years. The controlled modification of the electrical and optoelectronic properties of GQDs by physical/chemical processes or synthetic methods may lead to new applications. Gadolinium-doped polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized and nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (GdNPs-PEI@N-GQDs) are synthesized by a hydrothermal method to determine how doping carbon-based materials with Gd alters the electrical properties of the structure. The electrical properties of the GdNPs/PEI@N-GQDs nanocomposite-based diode are investigated using the current–voltage (I–V) technique and the capacitance and conductance voltage (C–V & G/ω–V) technique at 300 K in the frequency range of 0.5 to 500 kHz at ± 5 V. The rectification ratio (RR) is found to be 14 at a voltage of ±5 V. The rectifying behavior of the diode changes to an ohmic behavior after doping with Gd, compared to the Gd-free PEI@N-GQDs sample (2.8 × 104 at ±5 V). The results are expected to have an impact on the understanding of carbon-based electronics technology.