Synthesis of nanosized Co3O4 particles by spray pyrolysis

Nanosized Co3O4 particles were firstly prepared by spray pyrolysis without milling process. The as-prepared particles obtained by spray pyrolysis turned to nanosized Co3O4 particles with narrow size distribution and non-aggregation characteristics after post-treatment between post-treatment temperature of 500 and 800 °C. Ethylene glycol used as organic additive into spray solution enabled the formation of the nanosized Co3O4 particles in the spray pyrolysis. The mean size of the Co3O4 particles changed from several tens nanometer to micron size according to the post-treatment temperatures. The mean sizes of the particles measured from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photograph were 200 and 400 nm at post-treatment temperature of 700 and 800 °C.