In-situ deposition of Co nanoparticles in discharged TiO2 nanotube array with enhanced magnetic property.

• Metallic Co nanoparticles are in-situ deposited into the discharged TiO 2 nanotube array. • After calcination, the resulting TiO 2 @Co composite has excellent ferromagnetic properties. • The maximum saturation magnetization of TiO 2 @Co composite is 15.85 emu/g. Titanium oxide (TiO 2) nanotube array is prepared by an anodization method, and the TiO 2 nanotube array and a lithium foil are used as working and counter electrodes, respectively, to assemble a lithium-ion battery. After discharge to 0.01 V, the TiO 2 nanotube array is reducible. Metallic Co nanoparticles are in-situ deposited into the discharged TiO 2 nanotube array in saturated cobalt acetate in N-N dimethylformamide solution for the first time. The sample exhibits enhanced magnetic properties after calcination at 500 °C in a reducing agent. The morphology, structure and magnetic properties of the samples are characterized and analyzed in detail. This work provides a new method for the synthesis of one-dimensional functional materials by using TiO 2 nanotube array template. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]