Surfactant-controlled low-temperature thermal decomposition route to monodispersed phase pure tricobalt tetraoxide nanoparticles

A low-temperature synthesis of tricobalt tetraoxide, Co3O4 nanoparticles was accomplished via thermal decomposition of a new precursor cobalt malonate, [CoCH2C2O4]· 2H2O in presence of surfactant stabilizers oleylamine (C18H35NH2) and triphenylphosphine ((C6H5)3P). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. Powder XRD pattern furnished evidence for a face-centered cubic structure of Co3O4 with average crystallite size of about 10 nm. TEM studies revealed Co3O4 nanoparticles to be monodispersed, mostly cubic having sizes 4–12 nm. Electron diffraction pattern indicates polycrystalline nature of the synthesized material. Raman spectrum showed four characteristic peaks of Co3O4 which further affirmed the phasic purity of the material.

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► Low-temperature thermal decomposition of cobalt malonate gave monodispersed cubic Co3O4 nanoparticles.
► Powder XRD showed a face-centered cubic structure of Co3O4 having average crystallite size about 10 nm.
► Raman spectrum showed four characteristic modes of Co3O4.
► The methodology can serve as a paradigm for accessing different metal oxide nanomaterials.