The Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt-Rice Husk Silica Nanoparticles

Abstract

Spherical and needle-like cobalt nanoparticles incorporated on rice husk silica was synthesized by a simple, rapid and eco-friendly sol-gel route at room temperature. This was achieved by direct mixing of 20 wt.% Co with sodium silicate from rice husk under ambient conditions to form RH-20Co. The cobalt was found to be isomorphously substituted in the silica matrix. A good dispersion of cobalt nanoparticles was evidenced from X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of well-dispersed and spherical cobalt nanoparticles with an average particle size of 5.6 nm. The magnetic properties of this material were measured with vibrating magnetometer. The saturation magnetization, M s and coercive force, H c was found to be 0.245 emu/g and 304.09 Oe respectively.