Cobalt Nanoparticles by Prudent Chemical Method and It's Characterization

Abstract

For the synthesis of Cobalt Nanoparticles (CoNPs), the prudent wet phase reduction process was applied by employing urea as an effective oxidizing agent. The requirement of analogous precipitation of executed synthesis method was fulfilled by taking advantage of sufficiently slow hydrolysis of urea in water at an acceptable temperature. The experiment was carried out by mixing cobalt nitrate and urea (1:2) in distilled water. The reaction mass was then subjected to 400ÚC temperature in muffle furnace by intermittent shaking. The product formed i.e. cobalt oxide was cooled and crushed to get powder which was then reduced at 800°C in presence of inert gas i.e. hydrogen. Newly formed nanoparticles (i.e. nano catalyst) were analyzed and characterized for surface morphology using different analytical tools like X-ray powder diffractometer (XRPD), Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Nitrogen adsorption by BET. The extension of study was done to evaluate the effect of change in reduction temperature on characteristic properties of CoNPs.