Synthesis of nanosized Co₃O₄ particles by spray pyrolysis

Nanosized Co₃O₄ particles were firstly prepared by spray pyrolysis without milling process. The as-prepared particles obtained by spray pyrolysis turned to nanosized Co₃O₄ particles with narrow size distribution and non-aggregation characteristics after post-treatment between post-treatment temperature of 500 and 800 °C. Ethylene glycol used as organic additive into spray solution enabled the formation of the nanosized Co₃O₄ particles in the spray pyrolysis. The mean size of the Co₃O₄ particles changed from several tens nanometer to micron size according to the post-treatment temperatures. The mean sizes of the particles measured from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photograph were 200 and 400 nm at post-treatment temperature of 700 and 800 °C.