Facile single pot synthesis of MnO₂ nanorods-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite: Structural, chemical and field emission investigations

MnO₂ nanorods-reduced graphene oxide (MnO₂-rGO) nanocomposite has been synthesized by facile single pot hydrothermal method. The decoration of crystalline α-MnO₂ with tetragonal phase on rGO nanosheets has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. The field emission (FE) properties of MnO₂-rGO emitter have been investigated and it exhibited enhanced FE properties demonstrated by lower values of turn-on and threshold field in contrast to the pristine MnO₂ and rGO emitter. The superior FE characteristics of the MnO₂-rGO emitter are attributed to the modulation of morphological properties offering high aspect ratio as well as electronic properties enhancing the density of states. The observed FE characteristics of MnO₂-rGO emitter indicates the potential of using in vacuum microelectronics/nanoelectronics.