Template-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposited Spinel Ferrite Nanotubes

Ternary copper ferrite and copper cobalt ferrite nanotubes were deposited via a chemical vapor deposition process utilizing decomposing solid precursors under oxygen flow into anodic aluminum oxide templates heated to 450 degrees C. Extracted nanotubes were subsequently calcined at 450 degrees C for 12 h. Transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the spinel nanostructured tubes. Copper and cobalt ferrite spinel phases were formed at 450 degrees C, which is significantly lower than previously reported, due to increased chemical reactivity of the constituents in the nanotubular structure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported study of chemical vapor deposited copper ferrite spinel nanotubes at temperatures less than 700 degrees C.