Composition-tunable Ni1−xCox nanotubes: Template synthesis, magnetic properties, and catalytic activities for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Abstract Ni 1−x Co x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanotubes with outer diameters of 180–210 nm were quickly fabricated by a facile template-assisted chemical deposition method. Their microstructures, magnetic properties and catalytic activities for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol were studied. The results showed that the as-obtained boron-doped transition-metals had uniform size, noncrystalline structure and typical hollow tube-like morphologies. The content of Ni and Co in the nanotubes can be easily adjusted by changing the Ni 2+ /Co 2+ ratios in the solution used for the co-deposition process. Except for the similar coercive force ( H c ), their saturation magnetization ( M s ) and remanent magnetization (Mr) increased with the increase of Co content. In addition, all of the metal nanotubes presented good catalytic performances for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The catalytic efficiencies gradually became better in the order of Ni, NiCo, NiCo 2 and Co.