Chemical transformation of hollow coordination polymer particles to Co3O4 nanostructures and their pseudo-capacitive behaviors

• Co-based coordination polymer particles with particles and nanoflake arrays shapes have been synthesized.
• Co3O4 has been easily obtained by chemical transformation from CPPs.
• C/CoO composites can be generated through transformation method in N2 atmosphere.
• Co3O4 exhibit wonderful capacitive performance.

A straightforward approach has been developed to fabricate Co3O4 nanostructures based on hollow-structured coordination polymer precursors, which have been synthesized from Co2+ and organic building blocks. The coordination polymer precursors and the transformation products have characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The pseudo-capacitive behavior of Co3O4 nanostructures has been conducted by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge studies and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The result suggests that porous Co3O4 rods have smaller charge transfer resistance and faster ion diffusion rate in comparison with Co3O4 particles, and show better cycle properties at charging–discharging intensity of 3 A g−1.

Co3O4 nanostructures are synthesized from annealing the uniform Co-based coordination polymer particles and display a pesudocapacitance behavior, which can further be evaluated and confirmed by series of electrochemical measurements.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide