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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