• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.327-333
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• 2011

Nanostructured cobalt materials have recently attracted considerable attention due to their potential applications in high-density data storage, magnetic separation and heterogeneous catalysts. The size as well as the morphology at the nano scale strongly influences the physical and chemical properties of cobalt nano materials. In this study, cobalt nano particles synthesized by a a polyol process, which is a liquid-phase reduction method, were investigated. Cobalt hydroxide ($Co(OH)_2$), as an intermediate reaction product, was synthesized by the reaction between cobalt sulphate heptahydrate ($CoSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$) used as a precursor and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) dissolved in DI water. As-synthesized $Co(OH)_2$ was washed and filtered several times with DI water, because intermediate reaction products had not only $Co(OH)_2$ but also sodium sulphate ($Na_2SO_4$), as an impurity. Then the cobalt powder was synthesized by diethylene glycol (DEG), as a reduction agent, with various temperatures and times. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), as a capping agent, was also added to control agglomeration and dispersion of the cobalt nano particles. The optimized synthesis condition was achieved at $220^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours with 0.6 of the PVP/$Co(OH)_2$ molar ratio. Consequently, it was confirmed that the synthesized nano sized cobalt particles had a face centered cubic (fcc) structure and with a size range of 100-200 nm.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.510-517
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• 2013

In this study, the properties of blue inorganic nano-pigments with a spinel structure were systematically investigated. We report the preparation of a blue ceramic nano-pigment and the Co and Ni substitutional effects on the blue color. $MgAl_2O_4$ was selected as the crystalline host network for the synthesis of cobalt and nickel-based blue ceramic nano-pigments. Various compositions of $Co_xMg_{1-x}Al_2O_4$ and $Ni_xMg_{1-x}Al_2O_4$ ($0{\leq}x{\leq}1$) powders were prepared using apolymerized complex method. The obtained powder was preheated at $400^{\circ}C$ for 5 h and then calcined at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 5 h. XRD patterns of the (Co,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ and (Ni,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ samples showed a single phase of the spinel structure in all compositions. TEM results indicated nano-sized pigments for (Co,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ and (Ni,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ with a particle size ranging from 20 to 50 nm. The characteristics of the color tones of (Co,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ and (Ni,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ were analyzed by CIE $L^*a^*b^*$ measurements. In addition, the thermal stability and the binding characteristics of (Co,Mg)$Al_2O_4$, (Ni,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ are discussed in terms of the TG-DSC and FT-IR results, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.255-264
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• 2013

Cobalt aluminate ($CoAl_2O_4$) is a highly stable pigment with excellent resistance to light, weather, etc., which has resulted in widespread use as a ceramic pigment. Due to the unique optical characteristics, $CoAl_2O_4$ is generally used as a coloring agent to decorate porcelain products, glass, paints and plastics. Here, $CoAl_2O_4$ pigments were synthesized by polymerized complex method and solid state reaction. Then $CoAl_2O_4$ pigment were grinded using the attrition milling with 1 mm size zirconia ball for 3 hours. The attrition milling process was performed at the constant speed of 800 rpm and ball to powder weight ratio (BPR) was 100 : 1. The characteristics of synthesized pigment were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analyser (PSA) and CIE $L^*a^*b^*$. The XRD patterns of $CoAl_2O_4$ show single phase spinel structure. The particle size of $CoAl_2O_4$ measured by FE-SEM, TEM and PSA analysis was in the range of 100~200 nm. The blue color of obtained $CoAl_2O_4$ pigments could be confirmed through CIE $L^*a^*b^*$ measurement.