Synthesis and Electrocatalytic Properties of Co3O4 Nanocrystallites with Various Morphologies

Abstract

Co3O4 crystallites with particle, plate-, tube-, rod- and sheet-like morphologies were successfully prepared by the calcination of the corresponding precursors synthesized via a precipitation or hydrothermal procedure. The morphologies of the precursors and Co3O4 nano-tubes were detected by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The as-obtained Co3O4 samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and special surface area measurement (BET). The electrocatalytic activity of p-nitrophenol reduction with the Co3O4 products decorated on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was tested, respectively, using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in a basic solution. The results indicated that p-nitrophenol was reduced with higher current density but almost at a constant potential on the Co3O4/GCE in contrast with that on a bare GCE at the same conditions. The highly catalytic activity of the as-prepared Co3O4 in a basic solution suggested their wide applications in environmental treatment or organic synthesis. © 2010 The Author(s).