The project can be defined as a multidisciplinary effort towards finding the optimal scientific links between the synthesis of the carbon-quantum dots/graphene hybrids and their applications in broad band photodetection. Specifically, it will address the current need to develop flexible carbon-based photodetector (PD) with detection window broader than Si-based photodetectors (sensitivity ranging from UV to NIR of the electromagnetic spectrum at room temperature). In order to advance the development of flexible, broad band PD we consider engineering the graphene surface by hybridisation of SLG or its derivatives (graphene foam and reduced graphene oxide) with light-sensitising materials such as carbon-quantum dots (CQD). Thus, combining the conduction properties of the SLG with the large molar extinction coefficient of CQD we propose a PD which uses SLG as the conduction channel and CQD as the absorbing material.

It is the aim of this project to : (1) develop the technology specialised on graphene-based photodetector devices, addressing the practical realisation of the flexible photodetector with broad band responsivity; (2) explore several strategies to synthesise graphene-based materials to ensure optimal device operation, addressing the practical production of (i) colloidal carbon quantum dots with surface ligands which will confer them the broad absorption in both solution and solid state as well as efficient interaction with the graphene channel of the photodetector; (ii) reduced graphene oxide with various degree of reduction as well as their chemical doping with heteroatoms to render them p- and n-type conduction to make them technologically viable as the conduction channel of the final PD; (iii) foam like 3D graphene structures by thermal CVD using methane as the carbon source and nickel foam as both catalyst and scaffold in the growth process.