Simple optical method for recognizing physical parameters of graphene nanoplatelets materials

Graphene nanoplatelets exhibit high potential for current engineering applications, particularly in context of conductive inks for organic and flexible electronic. Electrodes for organic displays are expected to be transparent in the visible part of electromagnetic spectrum. Thus this study aimed at full-field transmission measurements in the visible wavelength range. The paper presents transmission characteristics of different graphene samples. Samples, prepared using spray coating methods contained 3 types of deposited inks. Each of them was based on different concentration and size of graphene nanoplatelets. Moreover, they had various numbers of layers. Such materials were characterized by different parameters, like distribution of deposited carbon nanoparticles which is influencing layers homogeneity, resulting in different optical properties. Further, this research tries to establish a robust indicators characterizing examined samples. Authors built in Institute novel scanning optical system with fiber-based, compact spectrometer instead of other expensive techniques used for material characteristic in nanosciences i.e. high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. An optical scheme, design of system and technical parameters are described. Performed examinations show, that number of parameters derived from our measurements, strongly correlate with physical properties of deposited inks. Authors estimated surface roughness, homogeneity and distribution of nanoparticles agglomerates within the deposited layers. Presented results suggest, that this novel cost-effective, simple optical method of materials characterization especially in production of graphene nanoplates coatings can be promising in concern of repeatability assessment and optical properties.