Anthracene mediated electrochemical synthesis of metallic cobalt nanoparticles in solution

• Effective mediated electrosynthesis of cobalt nanoparticles was realized in solution.
• The cobalt anode was used as a supplier of Со2+, anthracene was used as a mediator.
• The electrosynthesis was carried out in undivided cell at room temperature in DMF.
• The cobalt nanoparticles are oxidized by the air oxygen.

The metallic cobalt nanoparticles in the bulk solution were obtained by antracene mediated reduction of [СoCl4]2− in the potentiostatic electrolysis in an undivided cell at the potential of the anthracene reduction to radical anion at room temperature in DMF/0.1 M Bu4NCl media. [СoCl4]2− ions are generated by the sacrificial cobalt anode dissolution during the electrolysis. The metal particles are oxidized upon contact with the air to form the oxidized cobalt nanoparticles with a low dispersity (20–30 nm).

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