Preparation Co3O4 nano- and microparticles by solid state thermolysis of cobalt(II) complex

Abstract

Development of nanomaterials such as transition metal oxides with spinel structure has been intensively examined because of their applications in catalysis, energy storage, magnetic data storage and sensors [1]. Synthesis of these materials has been realized by various approaches, such as hydrothermal synthesis, solid state reactions and microwave synthesis [1]. In previous years, thermolysis of transition metal complexes as precursors provides a new technique in preparing useful nanomaterials due to the possibility to control their particle size and morphology [2]. The nano- and microparticles of Co3O4 have been prepared by direct calcination of ternary Co(II) complex, [Co3(bipym)3(H3mell)2]·18H2O, where bipym is 2,2’-bipyrimidine and H3mell3– is anion of 1,2,3,4,5,6-benzenehexacarboxylic (mellitic) acid at 450 and 1000 °C in air atmosphere. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRDP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate structure and morphology of the obtained materials. The results indicated the formation of pure Co3O4 phase, whose particles size depends on the calcination temperature.