Covalently Linked 2D-Co₃O₄/GO Heterostructures: Catalytic and Electrochemical Properties

Covalently cross-linked 2D heterostructures may represent a ground-breaking approach to creating materials with multifunctionalities. To date, however, this field still remains relatively unexplored. In the present work, Co₃O₄/GO covalently linked heterostructures (Co₃O₄/GO-CL) were produced using 2D-Co₃O₄ functionalized with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) to react with the carboxyl groups of graphene oxide (GO). The surface and interface properties of the final material were assessed through electrochemical and catalytic studies. We found that the covalent bonds lead to a self-standing and ordered final structure, not observed for the noncovalent material (Co₃O₄/GO-nCL), also produced for comparison. The catalytic activity of Co₃O₄/GO-CL over the degradation of Rhodamine 6G showed great performance and the possibility of recycling the catalyst. Electrochemical evaluation stated higher specific capacitance for the covalently bonded material (468 F g^-1 against 110 F g^-1). Overall, results showed that the covalent bonds may be improving charge-transfer and interfacial area features, thus leading to enhanced catalytic and electrochemical performances.