Hollow Mesoporous Co3O4-CeO2 Composite Nanotubes with Open Ends for Efficient Catalytic CO Oxidation

Catalytic performance is heavily dependent on how the structures of nanomaterials are designed. Co3O4-CeO2 composite nanotubes with open ends and mesoporous structures were fabricated through a facile and environmentally friendly reaction. The mesoporous Co3O4 nanotubes were synthesized by the calcination of cobalt-aspartic acid (Co-Asp) nanowires and coated with a CeO2 shell. The composite nanotubes were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The composite materials comprise a combination of Co3O4 nanotubes and CeO2 nanoparticles with a hollow and mesoporous bimetallic oxide structure. The large BET surface area led to a higher degree of accessible active sites compared with other Co3O4-CeO2 composite nanomaterials with other structures. The resulting Co3O4-CeO2-26.3 wt % composite nanotubes, with a CeO2 content of approximately 26.3 wt %, achieved 100 % CO conversion at 145 degrees C. Additionally, the synergistic effect between the two metal oxides comprising the Co3O4-CeO2 composite nanotubes was demonstrated by the enhanced catalytic activity compared with pure Co3O4 nanotubes and CeO2 nanoparticles.