Ag@Graphene hybrid plasmonic nanocomposites by spray pyrolysis: synthesis, characterization and improved properties

In this study, graphene–silver (G–Ag) nanocomposite films on glass substrates were synthesized and characterized using a spray method with different concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3 g) of AgNO 3 . The films were heated to 300 °C, and X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze the crystalline structure and morphology of the G–Ag nanocomposites, respectively. UV–visible/NIR spectrophotometry was used to determine the optical properties of the films, which showed improved transparency and conductivity due to the attachment of silver nanoparticles to the graphene sheets. The results confirmed the successful attachment of silver nanoparticles to graphene as shown by the XRD and SEM analyses, and the presence of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the AgNPs was confirmed by the absorption peak at 410–430 nm in the UV–Vis spectra. Depicts a cross section of a thin film with a thickness of approximately (500 nm). XRD analysis indicated the presence of Ag and graphene, while Raman spectroscopy showed a slight difference between the spectra of the nanocomposites and AgNPs. UV–visible spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of AgNPs on the graphene films and their surface plasmon resonance properties; the graphene–silver nanocomposite films were found to be a promising method for fabricating thin, homogeneous graphene films with improved optical properties, which could have potential applications in optoelectronics, touch screens and solar cells. It was found that the calculated figure of merit (FOM) increased with increasing Ag concentration and reached a maximum value of 0.25, indicating that the G–Ag nanocomposite films have a good balance between optical transparency and electrical conductivity. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the synthesis and characterization of G–Ag nanocomposite films and their potential for various applications.