One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of uniformly cubic Co3O4 nanocrystals

Cubic Co3O4 nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal reaction in the presence of the oxidant KClO3 and the capping reagent polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The as-prepared Co3O4 NCs were uniformly cubic with sharp edges and good crystallinity and showed flat surfaces with {100} facets. The capped PVP could be removed without losing cubic shape by heating the NCs at 300 °C.