Novel synthesis of reduced graphene oxide-decorated antimony sulfide nanoparticles via pulsed laser ablation in liquid for photovoltaic applications

Abstract

In this study, a novel reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-decorated antimony sulfide (Sb₂S₃) nanocomposite was successfully synthesized using the pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) technique. A 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser was employed to ablate an Sb₂S₃ target submerged in Chlorobenzene containing rGO sheets, facilitating a one-step, environmentally friendly synthesis process. The rGO-Sb₂S₃ nanocomposite exhibited improved optical absorption properties and reduced bandgap energy (1.62 eV) compared to pure Sb₂S₃ (1.90 eV) and rGO (1.32 eV), attributed to enhanced interactions between rGO and Sb₂S₃ nanoparticles. Comprehensive characterization, including UV–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), confirmed the successful formation of rGO-Sb₂S₃ with well-dispersed Sb₂S₃ nanospheres (2–20 nm) anchored onto rGO sheets. The synergistic properties of rGO and Sb₂S₃, including improved charge separation and broad light absorption, make this nanocomposite a promising candidate for photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications. This work highlights the potential of PLAL for scalable, reproducible, and efficient synthesis of advanced nanocomposites for energy and environmental applications.