Microwave absorption and catalytic activity of carbon nanotubes decorated with cobalt nanoparticles

Cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) have been successfully synthesized on the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by in situ high-temperature decomposition of cobalt(III) acetylacetonate and CNTs in polyol solution. It is found that the structure of the Co NPs among the CNTs/Co nanocomposites is the mixture of cubic and hexagnonal phase and the nanocomposites are ferromagnetic. Microwave absorption of the CNTs/Co nanocomposites is higher than that of pure Co NPs and pure CNTs. The catalytic activity for ammonium perchlorate (AP) of CNTs/Co nanocomposites is higher than that of pure Co NPs. The mechanism on the improvement of microwave absorption and catalytic activity of CNTs/Co nanocomposites is discussed briefly.