Multifunctionality in graphene decorated with cobalt nanorods

Creating multifunctionality is always fascinating and required for various advance applications. We have prepared cobalt-graphene nanocomposite by co-reduction of graphite oxide and a divalent cobalt salt in water, at room temperature, by sodium borohydride. Microstructural study by high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) delineates that the nanocomposites consists of few layer of graphene sheets decorated by cobalt nanorods. The composite shows unusual photoluminescence in visible range due to defect decoration by cobalt nanorods, in spite of showing expected absorbance and magnetic properties. Functional nanomaterials with both magnetic and luminescence properties are important for application in biological systems. Superparamagnetic luminescent graphene sheets decorated with cobalt nanorods has been synthesized by co-reduction technique at room temperature. [Display omitted] •Luminescent Cobalt-graphene nanocomposite is synthesized by co-reduction technique in solution phase, at room temperature.•The composite is superparamagnetic in nature with blocking temperature ~8.8 K.•The composite produces strong violet and blue emission.•The composite will find important applications in catalysis, biological labelling and MRI contrast enhancer.