Viable Route for Cobalt Oxide-Carbon Nanocomposites

A one-step process to form carbon nanotubes coated with cobalt oxide nanoparticles, using spray pyrolysis of cobalt(II) acetylacetonate-xylene solutions, has been developed. Both microstructure and chemical composition of carbon nanotubes covered with cobalt oxide nanoparticles depend oil the concentration of the Co(acac)(2) solutions. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy studies reveal the microstructural and chemical nature of the cobalt oxide nanoparticles formed in situ on the surface of carbon nanotubes, during the spray pyrolysis process. Cobalt oxide nanoparticles, result to be embedded within graphite layers. X-ray photoelectronic data confirm the chemical composition and structure of the as-synthesized composite nanomaterials.