Construction of atomically ultrathin 3D flower-like α-Co(OH)2 hierarchical microspheres with gradually “OH−-incursion” outside-inside strategy

Abstract

A new 3D flower-like α-Co(OH)2 hierarchical microspheres with dodecyl benzene sulfate (DBS)-intercalated structure has been fabricated by employing a solvothermal method. The DBS-α-Co(OH)2 structure can be synergistically determined by various characterization methods (EDS, TGA, FTIR and XPS). Moreover, the DBS-α-Co(OH)2 microspheres exhibit a novel morphology with a range of hierarchically honeycomb-like porous structures formed between the neighboring Co(OH)2 nanosheets. And the thickness of the ultrathin Co(OH)2 nanosheet has been determined to be only 2.4–4.0 nm (4–6 single atomically thick layers) to gain a specific surface of Co(OH)2 microspheres as 210.54 m2 g−1. Due to the morphological evolution of the precursor, an innovative growth mechanism has been proposed and the formation of 3D flower-like Co(OH)2 hierarchical microspheres can be induced by a gradual “OH−-incursion” with an outside-inside strategy on basis of the transition state.