Abstract

Cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticle was synthesized by thermal treatment of the precursor obtained via mechanochemical reaction of Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with NH₄HCO₃. Calcination of the precursor at 300 °C resulted in the formation of Co₃O₄nanoparticles of 13 nm in crystal size. The precursor was examined by simultaneous differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The Co₃O₄nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Effect of calcination temperature on Co₃O₄crystal size was discussed. The activation energy (E) of Co₃O₄nanoparticle formation during thermal treatment was calculated to be 15.9 kJ/mol.