We report the discovery of an enhancement of the random laser action in a nanocomposite comprising reduced graphene oxide nanoflakes and ZnO nanorods. We show that both emission intensity and lasing threshold exhibit an obvious improvement. Based on our theoretical calculations, the mechanism underlying the enhanced stimulated emission can be attributed to coupling between the optical transition and the surface plasmon resonance of the reduced graphene oxide nanoflakes, induced by the ZnO nanorod surface roughness. The approach we describe here will be very useful for the future development of high-efficiency optoelectronic devices and offers an alternative route for application of reduced graphene oxide.

© 2012 OSA

1. M. L. Lu, H. Y. Lin, T. T. Chen, and Y. F. Chen, “Random lasing in the composites consisting of photonic crystals and semiconductor nanowires,” Appl. Phys. Lett.99(9), 091106 (2011). [CrossRef]
2. J. Min Lee, J. Yi, W. Woo Lee, H. Yong Jeong, T. Jung, Y. Kim, and W. Il Park, “ZnO nanorods-graphene hybrid structures for enhanced current spreading and light extraction in GaN-based light emitting diodes,” Appl. Phys. Lett.100(6), 061107 (2012). [CrossRef]
3. Z. L. Wang and J. Song, “Piezoelectric nanogenerators based on zinc oxide nanowire arrays,” Science312(5771), 242–246 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. Z. Yin, S. Wu, X. Zhou, X. Huang, Q. Zhang, F. Boey, and H. Zhang, “Electrochemical deposition of ZnO nanorods on transparent reduced graphene oxide electrodes for hybrid solar cells,” Small6(2), 307–312 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. A. Tsukazaki, A. Ohtomo, T. Onuma, M. Ohtani, T. Makino, M. Sumiya, K. Ohtani, S. F. Chichibu, S. Fuke, Y. Segawa, H. Ohno, H. Koinuma, and M. Kawasaki, “Repeated temperature modulation epitaxy for p-type doping and light-emitting diode based on ZnO,” Nat. Mater.4(1), 42–46 (2005). [CrossRef]
6. M. H. Huang, S. Mao, H. Feick, H. Yan, Y. Wu, H. Kind, E. Weber, R. Russo, and P. Yang, “Room-temperature ultraviolet nanowire nanolasers,” Science292(5523), 1897–1899 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. D. M. Bagnall, Y. F. Chen, Z. Zhu, T. Yao, S. Koyama, M. Y. Shen, and T. Goto, “Optically pumped lasing of ZnO at room temperature,” Appl. Phys. Lett.70(17), 2230 (1997). [CrossRef]
8. A. B. Djurišić and Y. H. Leung, “Optical properties of ZnO nanostructures,” Small2(8-9), 944–961 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. K. S. Novoselov, A. K. Geim, S. V. Morozov, D. Jiang, Y. Zhang, S. V. Dubonos, I. V. Grigorieva, and A. A. Firsov, “Electric field effect in atomically thin carbon films,” Science306(5696), 666–669 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. K. S. Novoselov, A. K. Geim, S. V. Morozov, D. Jiang, M. I. Katsnelson, I. V. Grigorieva, S. V. Dubonos, and A. A. Firsov, “Two-dimensional gas of massless Dirac fermions in graphene,” Nature438(7065), 197–200 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. S. W. Hwang, D. H. Shin, C. O. Kim, S. H. Hong, M. C. Kim, J. Kim, K. Y. Lim, S. Kim, S.-H. Choi, K. J. Ahn, G. Kim, S. H. Sim, and B. H. Hong, “Plasmon-enhanced ultraviolet photoluminescence from hybrid structures of graphene/ZnO films,” Phys. Rev. Lett.105(12), 127403 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. E. H. Hwang, R. Sensarma, and S. Das Sarma, “Plasmon-phonon coupling in graphene,” Phys. Rev. B82(19), 195406 (2010). [CrossRef]
13. R. R. Nair, P. Blake, A. N. Grigorenko, K. S. Novoselov, T. J. Booth, T. Stauber, N. M. R. Peres, and A. K. Geim, “Fine structure constant defines visual transparency of graphene,” Science320(5881), 1308 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14. K. P. Loh, Q. L. Bao, G. Eda, and M. Chhowalla, “Graphene oxide as a chemically tunable platform for optical applications,” Nat. Chem.2(12), 1015–1024 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
15. W. S. Hummers and R. E. Offeman, “Preparation of graphitic oxide,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.80(6), 1339 (1958). [CrossRef]
16. G. Eda, Y. Y. Lin, C. Mattevi, H. Yamaguchi, H. A. Chen, I. S. Chen, C. W. Chen, and M. Chhowalla, “Blue photoluminescence from chemically derived graphene oxide,” Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)22(4), 505–509 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
17. C. T. Chien, S. S. Li, W. J. Lai, Y. C. Yeh, H. A. Chen, I. S. Chen, L. C. Chen, K. H. Chen, T. Nemoto, S. Isoda, M. Chen, T. Fujita, G. Eda, H. Yamaguchi, M. Chhowalla, and V. Olevano, “Tunable photoluminescence from graphene oxide,” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., doi:. [CrossRef]
18. P. Cheng, D. Li, Z. Yuan, P. Chen, and D. Yang, “Enhancement of ZnO light emission via coupling with localized surface plasmon of Ag island film,” Appl. Phys. Lett.92(4), 041119 (2008). [CrossRef]
19. A. P. Abiyasa, S. F. Yu, S. P. Lau, E. S. P. Leong, and H. Y. Yang, “Enhancement of ultraviolet lasing from Ag-coated highly disordered ZnO films by surface-plasmon resonance,” Appl. Phys. Lett.90(23), 231106 (2007). [CrossRef]
20. K. Okamoto, I. Niki, A. Shvartser, Y. Narukawa, T. Mukai, and A. Scherer, “Surface-plasmon-enhanced light emitters based on InGaN quantum wells,” Nat. Mater.3(9), 601–605 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
21. J. M. Lin, H. Y. Lin, C. L. Cheng, and Y. F. Chen, “Giant enhancement of bandgap emission of ZnO nanorods by platinum nanoparticles,” Nanotechnology17(6), 4391–4394 (2006). [CrossRef]
22. C. S. Wang, H. Y. Lin, T. H. Lin, and Y. F. Chen, “Enhancement of random lasing assisted by light scattering and resonance energy transfer based on ZnO/SnO nanocomposites,” AIP Adv.2(1), 012133 (2012). [CrossRef]
23. Y. T. Chen and Y. F. Chen, “Enhanced random lasing in ZnO nanocombs assisted by Fabry-Perot resonance,” Opt. Express19(9), 8728–8734 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
24. D. Yang, A. Velamakanni, G. Bozoklu, S. Park, M. Stoller, R. D. Piner, S. Stankovich, I. Jung, D. A. Field, C. A. Ventrice, and R. S. Ruoff, “Chemical analysis of graphene oxide films after heat and chemical treatments by X-ray photoelectron and micro-Raman spectroscopy,” Carbon47(1), 145–152 (2009). [CrossRef]
25. N. M. Lawandy, R. M. Balachandran, A. S. L. Gomes, and E. Sauvain, “Laser action in strongly scattering media,” Nature368(6470), 436–438 (1994). [CrossRef]
26. Y. Liu and R. F. Willis, “Plasmon-phonon strongly coupled mode in epitaxial graphene,” Phys. Rev. B81(8), 081406 (2010). [CrossRef]
27. K. S. Kim, Y. Zhao, H. Jang, S. Y. Lee, J. M. Kim, K. S. Kim, J. H. Ahn, P. Kim, J. Y. Choi, and B. H. Hong, “Large-scale pattern growth of graphene films for stretchable transparent electrodes,” Nature457(7230), 706–710 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
28. T. Eberlein, U. Bangert, R. Nair, R. Jones, M. Gass, A. Bleloch, K. Novoselov, A. Geim, and P. Briddon, “Plasmon spectroscopy of free-standing graphene films,” Phys. Rev. B77(23), 233406 (2008). [CrossRef]
29. P. E. Trevisanutto, C. Giorgetti, L. Reining, M. Ladisa, and V. Olevano, “Ab initio GW many-body effects in graphene,” Phys. Rev. Lett.101(22), 226405 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)

• G. Eda, Y. Y. Lin, C. Mattevi, H. Yamaguchi, H. A. Chen, I. S. Chen, C. W. Chen, and M. Chhowalla, “Blue photoluminescence from chemically derived graphene oxide,” Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)22(4), 505–509 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

AIP Adv.

• C. S. Wang, H. Y. Lin, T. H. Lin, and Y. F. Chen, “Enhancement of random lasing assisted by light scattering and resonance energy transfer based on ZnO/SnO nanocomposites,” AIP Adv.2(1), 012133 (2012). [CrossRef]

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.

• C. T. Chien, S. S. Li, W. J. Lai, Y. C. Yeh, H. A. Chen, I. S. Chen, L. C. Chen, K. H. Chen, T. Nemoto, S. Isoda, M. Chen, T. Fujita, G. Eda, H. Yamaguchi, M. Chhowalla, and V. Olevano, “Tunable photoluminescence from graphene oxide,” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., doi:. [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• P. Cheng, D. Li, Z. Yuan, P. Chen, and D. Yang, “Enhancement of ZnO light emission via coupling with localized surface plasmon of Ag island film,” Appl. Phys. Lett.92(4), 041119 (2008). [CrossRef]
• A. P. Abiyasa, S. F. Yu, S. P. Lau, E. S. P. Leong, and H. Y. Yang, “Enhancement of ultraviolet lasing from Ag-coated highly disordered ZnO films by surface-plasmon resonance,” Appl. Phys. Lett.90(23), 231106 (2007). [CrossRef]
• M. L. Lu, H. Y. Lin, T. T. Chen, and Y. F. Chen, “Random lasing in the composites consisting of photonic crystals and semiconductor nanowires,” Appl. Phys. Lett.99(9), 091106 (2011). [CrossRef]
• J. Min Lee, J. Yi, W. Woo Lee, H. Yong Jeong, T. Jung, Y. Kim, and W. Il Park, “ZnO nanorods-graphene hybrid structures for enhanced current spreading and light extraction in GaN-based light emitting diodes,” Appl. Phys. Lett.100(6), 061107 (2012). [CrossRef]
• D. M. Bagnall, Y. F. Chen, Z. Zhu, T. Yao, S. Koyama, M. Y. Shen, and T. Goto, “Optically pumped lasing of ZnO at room temperature,” Appl. Phys. Lett.70(17), 2230 (1997). [CrossRef]

Carbon

• D. Yang, A. Velamakanni, G. Bozoklu, S. Park, M. Stoller, R. D. Piner, S. Stankovich, I. Jung, D. A. Field, C. A. Ventrice, and R. S. Ruoff, “Chemical analysis of graphene oxide films after heat and chemical treatments by X-ray photoelectron and micro-Raman spectroscopy,” Carbon47(1), 145–152 (2009). [CrossRef]

J. Am. Chem. Soc.

• W. S. Hummers and R. E. Offeman, “Preparation of graphitic oxide,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.80(6), 1339 (1958). [CrossRef]

Nanotechnology

• J. M. Lin, H. Y. Lin, C. L. Cheng, and Y. F. Chen, “Giant enhancement of bandgap emission of ZnO nanorods by platinum nanoparticles,” Nanotechnology17(6), 4391–4394 (2006). [CrossRef]

Nat. Chem.

• K. P. Loh, Q. L. Bao, G. Eda, and M. Chhowalla, “Graphene oxide as a chemically tunable platform for optical applications,” Nat. Chem.2(12), 1015–1024 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nat. Mater.

• A. Tsukazaki, A. Ohtomo, T. Onuma, M. Ohtani, T. Makino, M. Sumiya, K. Ohtani, S. F. Chichibu, S. Fuke, Y. Segawa, H. Ohno, H. Koinuma, and M. Kawasaki, “Repeated temperature modulation epitaxy for p-type doping and light-emitting diode based on ZnO,” Nat. Mater.4(1), 42–46 (2005). [CrossRef]
• K. Okamoto, I. Niki, A. Shvartser, Y. Narukawa, T. Mukai, and A. Scherer, “Surface-plasmon-enhanced light emitters based on InGaN quantum wells,” Nat. Mater.3(9), 601–605 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nature

• K. S. Novoselov, A. K. Geim, S. V. Morozov, D. Jiang, M. I. Katsnelson, I. V. Grigorieva, S. V. Dubonos, and A. A. Firsov, “Two-dimensional gas of massless Dirac fermions in graphene,” Nature438(7065), 197–200 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• N. M. Lawandy, R. M. Balachandran, A. S. L. Gomes, and E. Sauvain, “Laser action in strongly scattering media,” Nature368(6470), 436–438 (1994). [CrossRef]
• K. S. Kim, Y. Zhao, H. Jang, S. Y. Lee, J. M. Kim, K. S. Kim, J. H. Ahn, P. Kim, J. Y. Choi, and B. H. Hong, “Large-scale pattern growth of graphene films for stretchable transparent electrodes,” Nature457(7230), 706–710 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Express

• Y. T. Chen and Y. F. Chen, “Enhanced random lasing in ZnO nanocombs assisted by Fabry-Perot resonance,” Opt. Express19(9), 8728–8734 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. B

• Y. Liu and R. F. Willis, “Plasmon-phonon strongly coupled mode in epitaxial graphene,” Phys. Rev. B81(8), 081406 (2010). [CrossRef]
• T. Eberlein, U. Bangert, R. Nair, R. Jones, M. Gass, A. Bleloch, K. Novoselov, A. Geim, and P. Briddon, “Plasmon spectroscopy of free-standing graphene films,” Phys. Rev. B77(23), 233406 (2008). [CrossRef]
• E. H. Hwang, R. Sensarma, and S. Das Sarma, “Plasmon-phonon coupling in graphene,” Phys. Rev. B82(19), 195406 (2010). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• S. W. Hwang, D. H. Shin, C. O. Kim, S. H. Hong, M. C. Kim, J. Kim, K. Y. Lim, S. Kim, S.-H. Choi, K. J. Ahn, G. Kim, S. H. Sim, and B. H. Hong, “Plasmon-enhanced ultraviolet photoluminescence from hybrid structures of graphene/ZnO films,” Phys. Rev. Lett.105(12), 127403 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• P. E. Trevisanutto, C. Giorgetti, L. Reining, M. Ladisa, and V. Olevano, “Ab initio GW many-body effects in graphene,” Phys. Rev. Lett.101(22), 226405 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Science

• K. S. Novoselov, A. K. Geim, S. V. Morozov, D. Jiang, Y. Zhang, S. V. Dubonos, I. V. Grigorieva, and A. A. Firsov, “Electric field effect in atomically thin carbon films,” Science306(5696), 666–669 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• R. R. Nair, P. Blake, A. N. Grigorenko, K. S. Novoselov, T. J. Booth, T. Stauber, N. M. R. Peres, and A. K. Geim, “Fine structure constant defines visual transparency of graphene,” Science320(5881), 1308 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. H. Huang, S. Mao, H. Feick, H. Yan, Y. Wu, H. Kind, E. Weber, R. Russo, and P. Yang, “Room-temperature ultraviolet nanowire nanolasers,” Science292(5523), 1897–1899 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• Z. L. Wang and J. Song, “Piezoelectric nanogenerators based on zinc oxide nanowire arrays,” Science312(5771), 242–246 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Small

• Z. Yin, S. Wu, X. Zhou, X. Huang, Q. Zhang, F. Boey, and H. Zhang, “Electrochemical deposition of ZnO nanorods on transparent reduced graphene oxide electrodes for hybrid solar cells,” Small6(2), 307–312 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. B. Djurišić and Y. H. Leung, “Optical properties of ZnO nanostructures,” Small2(8-9), 944–961 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

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