Synthesis and characterization of cobalt oxide nanocomposite based on the Co3O4–zeolite Y

• The Co3O4–zeolite Y nanocomposite have been synthesized by ion-exchange method.
• Majority of Co3O4 particles migrated out of zeolite Y super cage.
• The sizes of the migrated Co3O4 particles out of zeolite Y super cage were in the range of 29 ± 5 nm.
• The as-obtained product did not show ferromagnetic behavior, due to their larger particle size than critical size.

The Co3O4 nanocomposite was synthesized by an ion-exchange of cobalt ions and Y zeolite in the presence of sodium hydroxide and calcination treatment. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), BET, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The sizes of the migrated Co3O4 particles out of Y zeolite super cage were in the range of 29 ± 5 nm. Finally, the magnetic property of as-obtained product was investigated in a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). This nanocomposite showed a paramagnetic behavior at room temperature.