Catalytic and capacity properties of nanocomposites based on cobalt oxide and nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers

The nanocomposites based on cobalt oxide and nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (N-CNFs) with cobalt oxide contents of 10–90 wt% were examined as catalysts in the CO oxidation and supercapacity electrodes. Depending on Co 3 O 4 content, such nanocomposites have different morphologies of cobalt oxide nanoparticles, distributions over the bulk, and ratios of Co 3+ /Co 2+ cations. The 90%Co 3 C 4 -N-CNFs nanocomposite showed the best activity because of the increased concentration of defects in N-CNFs. The capacitance of electrodes containing 10% Co 3 c 4 -N-CNFs was 95 F/g, which is 1.7 times higher than electrodes made from N-CNFs. The paper describes the properties of Co 3 O 4 -N-CNFs nanocomposites: doping of Co 3 O 4 by 10 wt% of N-CNFs improves the low-temperature activity of Co 3 O 4 in CO oxidation reaction.