In situ synthesis of highly populated CeO2 nanocubes grown on carbon nanotubes as a synergy hybrid and its electrocatalytic potential

Abstract

Interesting properties of nanostructures can be tailored to generate hybrid materials with exciting morphology and chemical compositions. Assembling of different forms, morphology, and chemical complexities of nanomaterials can lead to high performance materials. We present a study where CeO2 nanocubes are grown on CNTs to produce a synergy hybrid. Microscopy showed the presence of the highly dense population of ceria cubes grown on the surface of carbon nanotubes. This special three-dimensional morphology provided micro cavities and pits network to facilitate improved mass transport and offered a large surface area to promote remarkable electrocatalysis. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed high purity of the hybrid whereas, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to evaluate the presence and utilization of functional groups during the formation of hybrid. The hybrid exhibited excellent electrochemical potential for the detection of ascorbic acid and its fast oxidation occurred at very low potential (0.1 V). The lower detection limit was found to be 70 nM (S/N = 3). The three-dimensional morphology, versatile chemical composition with better catalytic properties can provide pathways to the development of high-performance functional hybrids for the determination of other specimen or analytes. Keywords: Nanomaterials, Hybrids, Carbon nanotubes, Ceria, Nanocubes, Electrocatalysis