• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.350-355
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• 2015

Perforated polygonal cobalt oxide ($Co_3O_4$) is synthesized using electrospinning and a hydrothermal method followed by the removal of a carbon nanofiber (CNF) template. To investigate their formation mechanism, thermogravimetric analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are examined. To obtain the optimum condition of perforated polygonal $Co_3O_4$, we prepare three different weight ratios of the Co precursor and the CNF template: sample A (Co precursor:CNF template- 10:1), sample B (Co precursor:CNF template-3.2:1), and sample C (Co precursor:CNF template-2:1). Among them, sample A exhibits the perforated polygonal $Co_3O_4$ with a thin carbon layer (5.7-6.2 nm) owing to the removal of CNF template. However, sample B and sample C synthesized perforated round $Co_3O_4$ and destroyed $Co_3O_4$ powders, respectively, due to a decreased amount of Co precursor. The increased amount of the CNF template prevents the formation of polygonal $Co_3O_4$. For sample A, the optimized weight ratio of the Co precursor and CNF template may be related to the successful formation of perforated polygonal $Co_3O_4$. Thus, perforated polygonal $Co_3O_4$ can be applied to electrode materials of energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2014

In this study, nano-sized cobalt oxide powder with an average particle size below 50 nm was prepared from a cobalt chloride solution by the spray pyrolysis process. The influences of reaction temperature on the properties of the generated powder were examined. The average particle size of the particles formed based on the spray pyrolysis process at a reaction temperature of $700^{\circ}C$ is roughly 20 nm. Moreover, most of these particles cannot appear with an independent type, thereby coexisting in a droplet type. When the reaction temperature increases to $800^{\circ}C$, the average particle size not only increases to roughly 40 nm but also shows a more dense structure while the ratio of particles which shows a polygonal form significantly increases. As the reaction temperature increases to $900^{\circ}C$, the distribution of the particles is from roughly 70 nm to 100 nm, while most of the particle surface is more intricately close and forms a polygonal shape. When the reaction temperature increases to $1000^{\circ}C$, the particle size distribution of the powder shows an existing form from 80 nm to at least 150 nm in an uneven form. As the reaction temperature increases, the XRD peak intensity gradually increases, yet the specific surface area gradually decreases.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.277-284
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• 2014

Using the spray pyrolysis process, nano-sized cobalt oxide powder with average particle size below 50 nm was prepared from cobalt chloride solution. The influences of the raw material solution on the properties of the powder formed examined. When the concentration of Co was low(20 g/L), the average particle size of the powder formed was roughly 20 nm, and the cohesion between these particles was significantly strong. When the concentration of Co increased to 100 g/L, the droplets nearly failed to exist in circular form and reflected a severely divided form. Furthermore, the average size of the particles formed was roughly 40 nm, and the particles reflected a polygonal form. When the solution was increased to nearly saturation level (Co at 200 g/L), the particle size distribution reflected significant unevenness due to severe droplet division while the surface also reflected significant unevenness. Furthermore, the average size of the particles formed increased significantly to 70 nm. The results of XRD analysis showed that the strength of the peaks reflected very little change when the concentration of Co was increased from 20 g/L to 50 g/L. Alternatively, when the concentration was increased to 100 g/L, the strength of the peaks increased compared to when the concentration was 50 g/L. However, when the concentration was increased to 200 g/L, the strength of the peaks failed to reflect significant change compared to when the concentration was 100 g/L. The specific surface area dramatically decreased by 30 % when the concentration of Co was increased from 20 g/L to 50 g/L. Alternatively, when the concentration of Co the solution increased to 100 g/L, the specific surface area decreased by roughly 15 %. Furthermore, when the concentration of Co was increased to nearly saturation level(200 g/L), the specific surface area decreased by roughly 35%.