Structural evolution and thermal stabilization of GO–CoNiFeP nanocomposites prepared by electroless deposition

Abstract Graphene oxide (GO)-supported Co–Ni–Fe–P nanocomposites were synthesized via electroless deposition and investigated to understand the structural and thermal modifications induced by multicomponent alloy incorporation. X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of a predominantly amorphous to nanocrystalline alloy phase accompanied by changes in the structural organization of GO. Raman spectroscopy indicated increased defect density and modification of the carbon framework following alloy deposition, while FTIR analysis suggested interactions between GO functional groups and the deposited alloy species. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the transformation of the layered GO morphology into a particle-decorated composite structure. Thermal analysis demonstrated enhanced thermal resistance, evidenced by delayed decomposition behavior, reduced mass-loss rates, and increased residual mass compared with pristine GO. The results provide insight into the structural evolution and thermal behavior of graphene oxide in the presence of a multicomponent Co–Ni–Fe–P alloy system.