Flexible interfaces between reduced graphene oxide and indium tin oxide/polyethylene terephthalate for advanced optoelectronic devices

Integration of graphene on flexible and transparent supports, such as ITO/PET, represents a challenging goal for the realization of next-generation optoelectronic materials. In this context, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) results an elective material for its easy handling and wide range of possibilities for processing. We present two different synthetic routes to prepare an interface between rGO and ITO/PET by an electrochemical approach: a direct electrodeposition of rGO onto the ITO/PET support by reduction of GO monolayers suspended in water (one-step approach) and the reduction of bulk GO films previously deposited onto the ITO/PET support (two-step approach). XPS analysis revealed that in both cases rGO is formed onto the surface of ITO/PET, successfully leading to a flexible rGO/ITO/PET interface. The one-step method proved more direct and simpler, though with less discernible electrochemical features. Instead, the two-step approach provided clearly detectable electrochemical signals, which enable a more facile tuning of the reduction parameters. © 2019 American Chemical Society.