Design of a Prussian Blue Analogue/Carbon Nanotube Thin-Film Nanocomposite: Tailored Precursor Preparation, Synthesis, Characterization, and Application.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) filled with different species of cobalt (metallic cobalt, cobalt oxide) were synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition method through cobaltocene pyrolysis. A systematic study was performed to correlate different experimental conditions with the structure and characteristics of the obtained material. Thin films of Co-filled CNTs were deposited over conductive substrates through a liquid-liquid interfacial method and were used for cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCFe) electrodeposition by an innovative route in which the Co species encapsulated in the CNTs were employed as reactants. The CNT/CoHCFe films were characterized by different spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical techniques and presented high electrochemical stability in different media. The nanocomposites were applied as both an electrochemical sensor to H2 O2 and a cathode for ion batteries and showed limits of detection at approximately 3.7 nmol L(-1) and a capacity of 130 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 5 A g(-1) .