https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06216-0
Regular Article
Flexible and transparent highly luminescent sensor based on doped zinc tungstate/graphene oxide nanocomposite
1
Faculty of Physics, Semnan University, P.O. Box:35195 363, Semnan, Iran
2
Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, Semnan University, 35131-19111, Semnan, Iran
a
s.alamdari@semnan.ac.ir
b
mtafreshi@semnan.ac.ir
Received:
13
February
2025
Accepted:
12
March
2025
Published online:
9
April
2025
In this study, a cost-effective flexible sensor based on manganese-doped zinc tungstate/graphene oxide composite nanoparticles (ZnWO4/GO: Mn NPs) was fabricated. ZnWO4/GO: Mn NPs were successfully synthesized via the coprecipitation method; using an ultrasonic-assisted spin-spray coating technique, synthesized NPs were deposited on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to form a flexible composite film. The synergistic combination of ultrasonic irradiation and spray coating resulted in defect-free, uniform films with enhanced bonding to the PET substrate. The prepared film's optical response and structural features were investigated under ultraviolet, and ion beam-induced luminescence excitations, along with XRD, EDX-Mapping, FESEM, and FTIR measurements. Also, the ionizing radiation sensitivity of the prepared composite film was investigated using 241Am source. XRD, FTIR, and EDX-Mapping elemental results showed characteristic peaks of ZnWO4 and related elements in the samples. FESEM image showed that prepared NPs are approximately 96–264 nm in diameter. The addition of GO to ZnWO4 increases the particle size, likely due to the interaction between ZnWO4 nanoparticles and GO sheets. The band gap energy of the prepared ZnWO4/GO: Mn film was decreased by doping and obtained 
3.28 eV. According to the measurements, the flexible ZnWO4/GO: Mn film showed prominent blue-green luminescent, centered at 400–500 nm visible regions and high ionizing ray sensitivity which is comparable with commercial ZnS: Ag. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics were analyzed under both dark and UV-irradiated conditions, revealing that Mn-doped ZnWO4/GO exhibited the highest UV sensitivity (3.5) compared to ZnWO4 (1.5) and ZnWO4/GO (2.5). The photocurrent response of the samples, assessed through cyclic light activation, showed peak currents of 130, 180, and 200 nA for ZnWO4, ZnWO4/GO, and ZnWO4/GO:Mn, respectively. The enhanced UV response of the Mn-doped composite is attributed to bandgap engineering, oxygen adsorption/desorption processes, and reduced dark current, leading to an improved signal-to-noise ratio. These findings highlight the potential of Mn-doped ZnWO4/GO nanocomposites for UV detection applications. The results indicate that prepared nanocomposite has the potential for practical applications in future optoelectronic fields and display.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
