A Facile Preparation of the Co₃O₄ Villiform Nanostructure

Abstract

A Co₃O₄ villiform nanostructure was prepared by the aid of the cobalt oxalate precursor and characterized with x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-vis spectrum. It is found that the villiform structure obtained consists of Co₃O₄ nanorods with diameters of 50–80 nm. Moreover, the UV-vis absorptions of the villiform Co₃O₄ show the apparent blue shifts by comparison with the bulk Co₃O₄, indicating a quantum size effect similar to the free Co₃O₄ nanoparticles.

Keywords:

• Co₃O₄
• cobalt oxalate precursor
• nanostructure
• wet chemistry synthesis