Microfluidic synthesis of ultrasmall Co nanoparticles over reduced graphene oxide and their catalytic properties

We prepared a one-stage microfluidic-based method for continuous synthesis of cobalt (Co) nanoparticles over reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to produce Co/rGO composites. These were generated by the coreduction of Co²⁺ ions and GO with NaBH₄ which was confined within discrete aqueous plugs segmented by octane as continuous phase. Owing to the excellent transfer properties from recirculation in these plugs, ultrasmall Co nanoparticles were distributed homogeneously on the GO sheets without using any surfactants. As compared to batch methods, the average size of Co nanoparticles and the relative standard deviation decreased from 4.0 ± 1.42 nm and 35.9% to 2.0 ± 0.45 nm and 22.6%, respectively. The as-prepared Co/rGO composites exhibited superior activity towards the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol with NaBH₄ compared with Co nanoparticles and rGO; this enhanced activity could be attributed to the synergistic effect between Co nanoparticles and rGO.