Controllable preparation and properties of composite materials based on ceria nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes

We report a method to prepare composites based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The CeO2 NPs were attached to CNTs by hydrothermal treatment of Ce(OH)4/CNT mixture in NaOH solution at 180 °C. It was found that larger CeO2 NPs were formed in the presence of CNTs. Grain size of CeO2 NPs in the composites can be reduced when NaNO3 was added in the hydrothermal process. Electrochemical characterizations have shown that the composites possess a specific capacity between those of CNTs and CNTs mechanically mixed with CeO2. These CeO2/CNT composites could serve as promising anode materials for Li-ion batteries.