Gamma-radiation induced synthesis of spinel Co3O4 nanoparticles

Abstract

Gamma irradiation method has been applied to produce paramagnetic spherically shaped single crystals tricobalt tetraoxide (Co 3O 4) nanoparticles from cobalt oxyhydroxide sols, in alkaline medium pH ~ 12. The present investigation has proven the efficiency of gamma rays in inducing changes in structure and morphology of the sols prepared before irradiation. Characterization techniques so far discussed in this study revealed that the sol product prepared before irradiation corresponded to the standard cobalt(III) oxyhydroxide, CoO(OH) , which, under gamma irradiation, was transformed to tricobalt tetraoxide, Co 3O 4, with an average particle size of ~ 30–45 nm.