Synthesis and their physicochemical behaviors of flower-like Co3O4 microspheres

• Co3O4 with flower morphology were synthesized by solvothermal method.
• The formation mechanism of flower-like morphology was proposed.
• The catalysis performance concerning AP was investigated.

The flower-like Co3O4 assembled with nano-leaves could be obtained through annealing the cobalt hydroxide carbonate precursor, which was first synthesized via one-pot hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction and TEM analysis demonstrated the transition from the precursor of amorphous state to Co3O4 with cubic phase structure. XRD results indicated the increase in the calcination temperature from 300 to 400 °C for the precursor would bring about the increase in the crystallinity degree and ferromagnetic property of the products. The TG analysis demonstrated that as prepared Co3O4 samples for different calcination temperature had significant effect on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. And the decomposition temperature region of ammonium perchlorate could be decreased from 303–454 °C to 256–356 °C by the catalysis of Co3O4.