Abstract
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) synthesized by spray pyrolysis were decorated with cobalt oxide nanoparticles using a simple synthesis route. This wet chemistry method yielded nanoparticles randomly anchored to the surface of the nanotubes by decomposition of cobalt nitrate hexahydrate diluted in acetone. Electron microscopy analysis indicated that dispersed particles were formed on the MWCNTs walls. The average size increased with the increasing concentration of cobalt nitrate in acetone in the precursor mixture. TEM images indicated that nanoparticles were strongly attached to the tube walls. The Raman spectroscopy results suggested that the MWCNT structure was slightly damaged after the nanoparticle growth.
1. Introduction
Carbon nanotubes are receiving an increasing scientific interest because of their remarkable properties. They exhibit an extraordinary mechanical strength, and electrical, chemical and thermal characteristics, making them useful for several potential applications [1, 2]. In the last years, because of their high chemical stability and the large surface to volume ratio, extensive research within the fields of catalytic and sensor applications has been proposed [3–6]. In fact, multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been used as supports for Co–Mo–K catalyst for the selective formation of higher C2+-alcohols from syngas [5, 7], as well as for hydrogenation of carbon monoxide over Co nanoparticles (Fisher-Tropsch synthesis) [6]. In order to enhance the chemical selectivity of gas sensors, the use of carbon nanotubes decorated with metal nanoparticles was proposed with promising results [8, 9]. Nanocomposite of cobalt oxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes was also used for gas sensing devices with excellent results [10]. Cobalt-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composites were also used in microwave devices as absorbing materials [11].
In this work, high-quality MWCNTs were synthesized by the spray pyrolysis method. Subsequently, a wet chemistry process [12] was used in order to obtain nanostructured cobalt oxide particles by decomposition of the cobalt nitrate hexahydrate diluted in acetone and in the presence of carbon nanotubes. XPS results indicate the presence of cobalt oxide in the composite samples, while Raman spectroscopy studies confirmed the effective formation of cobalt oxide (Co3O4). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging was performed as well as scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) measurements using a scanning electron microscopy equipped with a field emission gun (FEG-SEM).
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Decoration of MWCNTs
The starting nanotube material was synthesized by the spray pyrolysis method as described elsewhere [12]. The advantage of this method is its capability to produce high yields of relatively clean nanotubes by the atomization of a solution released from a glass liquid container through a preheated quartz tube. A carrier gas is also required, and for this purpose an argon atmosphere with a flow rate of 1800 sccm was used. In our experiments, ferrocene (Fe(C5H5)2(s)) dissolved in toluene (C7H8) at a concentration of 2.3 wt.% was used. This solution was then pyrolyzed at 850°C in order to obtain MWCNTs with lengths up to several tens of micrometers and external diameters between 20 and 50 nm. The nanotubes were collected by scratching the quartz tube walls and they were further characterized by Raman spectroscopy and TEM.
To create the nanoparticle decoration, the as-grown MWCNTs were first dispersed in a solution of cobalt nitrate in acetone at a concentration between 0.5 to 1.0 wt.%. A two-step process was used to prepare the suspension. First, 25 mg of MWCNTs were subjected to ultrasonic processing in an aqueous bath ultrasonication device (Metasom-14, 40 kHz) for 15 minutes. Subsequently, a magnetic stir bar was placed into the mixture; the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes to help disperse the nanotubes. This two-step process was repeated five times in order to maximize the dispersion and reduce possible damages to the MWCNTs. Next, in order to obtain cobalt oxide particles, the solution was then dehydrated at 300°C during two hours and later annealed in air at the same temperature for three hours according to the following reaction .
2.2. Characterization
The Raman analyses were carried out using an NTEGRA Spectra-AFM/Confocal Raman microscope from NT-MDT equipped with a CCD detector. A laser line of 473 nm was used to excite the sample.
The chemical environment of the elements was determined by XPS. The photoelectron spectra of the C1s and Co2p core levels were monitored, using an Alpha 110 hemispherical analyzer from Thermo Scientific and a Mg Kα X-ray source (hν = 1253.6 eV). The pressure chamber was kept at about 10−6 Pa during analysis.
A careful TEM characterization was performed using a JEOL 2010 transmission electron microscope, whereas scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were obtained using a JEOL scanning electron microscope (model JSM-6701F) equipped with a field emission gun and a STEM facility.
3. Results and Discussion
The first step was to monitor the quality of the nanotube material to be used for later experimentation. Figure 1 shows SEM and TEM images of the as-synthesized MWCNTs prior to the decoration experiments. The CNTs formed compact blocks of alignment carbon nanotube bundles, as shown in Figure 1(a). The SEM images also showed some low-contrast regions corresponding to the presence of iron. It is noteworthy that amorphous carbon impurities were not usually evident and appeared in rare cases in our samples. The TEM image of the MWCNTs in Figure 1(b) reveals a heterogeneous diameter distribution and shows that many of the nanotubes were discontinuously filled with iron particles and iron nanowires, a common feature observed in samples prepared by spray pyrolysis [13].
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Figure 2(a) shows a image obtained from a decorated MWCNT (0.5 wt.% of cobalt nitrate in acetone) using the JEOL model JSM-6701F scanning electron microscope operating in STEM mode using a 30 keV electron beam. The image shows particles with typical sizes of 50 nm. STEM images also show larger particles that can be clusters formed by two or three smaller particles. We observed no evident particle detachment from the tubes. Figure 2(b) shows the distribution of particle sizes obtained from several STEM images.
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There is a sharp peak for particles with sizes of the order of 50 nm, as revealed in Figure 2(a). Figure 3 shows the particle size distribution from a decorated MWCNT (1.0 wt.%) obtained with the same procedure described above. The mean size increased with an increasing concentration of cobalt nitrate in acetone in the precursor mixture.
The cobalt concentration in the composite samples, as determined by XPS measurements, was 2.7 and 5.4 wt.% for the MWCNTs decorated with cobalt nitrate concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 wt.%, respectively. Figure 4 shows the Co2p photoemission spectrum obtained from the nanoparticles/MWCNTs (1.0 wt.%) sample. The XPS spectrum presents two photoemission maxima at binding energies of 781.1 eV for 2p3/2 and 796.4 eV for 2p1/2. The satellite structures appeared at around 789 eV for 2p3/2 and at 805 eV for 2p1/2. The satellite structures should be attributed to shake-up lines. The binding energies were calibrated relative to the CNTs C1s peak at 285.2 eV to compensate for charging and work function effects. The energy of the Co2p3/2 peak for metallic cobalt is 778.3 eV [14].
However, in Figure 4, the position of the main peak in the Co2p photoemission spectrum is shifted to a higher binding energy indicating the presence of cobalt oxides. The identification of cobalt oxides was not easy because of the small chemical shift of the main peaks in the XPS spectra of Co2p electrons in Co2+ and Co3+ as well as quite similar satellite structures. However, intensity ratio of Co2p1/2 satellite to its main peak was used to distinguish the monoxide and the spinel. It has been reported that the intensity ratio of Co2p1/2 to its mains peak is ~0.9 for cubic CoO and ~0.3 for Co3O4. From the spectra obtained from our samples, this ratio is around 0.3 in a clear indication that Co3O4 was formed [15].
The Raman spectrum acquired from the as-grown sample is presented in Figure 5(a).
The peaks at ~1350 and ~1580 cm−1 can be ascribed to the well-known D and G bands of carbon nanotubes, respectively. The second-order peak at ~2750 cm−1 is called 2D band. The Raman spectra taken from MWCNTs decorated with cobalt oxide particles show the same characteristic peaks at approximately the same positions, as is clear in Figures 5(b) and 5(c). The Raman method was effectively used to investigate the cobalt oxide structures in our samples. In fact, the spectrum presented in Figure 5(b) shows four typical peaks of Co3O4 around 469, 511, 606, and 673 cm−1. This spectrum was obtained from the decorated sample prepared with 0.5 wt.% of cobalt nitrate in acetone. It confirms the interaction between Co2+ and carbon nanotubes and matches up well with the reported cobalt oxide spectrum [16]. The intensity of the Co3O4 bands increased with an increasing concentration of cobalt nitrate in acetone.
The ratio represents the amorphous phase content or the degree of crystallinity of the carbonaceous materials and is a good indicator of the quality of the samples [17]. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the formation of particles on the MWCNTs was achieved with some disruption of the graphitic CNTs; the varied from 0.19 for pure MWCNTs to 0.25 and 0.35 for the composite samples prepared with 0.5 and 1.0 wt.% of cobalt nitrate in acetone, respectively.
Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show TEM images of cobalt particles (50 nm) on top of decorated MWCNTs (1.0 wt.%) MWCNTs. The images reveal that in some cases the particles are on locally damaged tube walls, as is clear from Figure 6(b). The coating etched the external tube walls during particle growth. These defects are probably responsible for the observed increase of the upon the increase of cobalt nitrate in the precursor mixture.
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The microscopy images suggested that the presence of active sites on the MWCNTs walls could favor the nucleation and growth of cobalt nanoparticles on the surface. The dissociation of Co(NO3)2 in acetone could oxidize the external walls of MWNCTs creating an oxide layer on the tube interface; this mechanism could be responsible for an efficient particle anchoring [18].
4. Conclusions
In conclusion, we have demonstrated that carbon nanotubes can be decorated by cobalt oxide nanoparticles through a simple chemical route, which is being potentially useful for catalytic and sensor applications. The nanoparticles were strongly anchored to the outer wall of the nanotubes, in few cases forming agglomerations in specific regions and partially etching the tube in such a way that the structural quality of the nanotubes was not drastically affected. The concentration of surface defects in our samples was probably the key factor driving the quite homogeneous distribution of the catalytic cobalt in the tube walls. XPS and Raman confirmed Co3O4 as the main oxide formed during the decoration process.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Brazilian Agencies, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ).