Co3O4 nanoparticles on the surface of halloysite nanotubes

Co3O4 nanoparticles were successfully deposited on the surface of natural halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) to produce Co3O4/HNTs composites. The structure and morphology of the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared. The results indicated that Co3O4 nanoparticles were uniformly attached on the surface of HNTs with narrow size distribution. Co3O4/HNTs exhibited an excellent photocatalytic efficiency for degradation of methyl blue under UV light, better than Co3O4 and HNTs mixture, HNTs and pure Co3O4. The mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity of Co3O4/HNTs was also proposed.