Thermal behavior of Co(II) and Ni(II) hydroxycarboxylate complexes obtained by two original synthesis methods

Abstract

This paper presents a facile and rapid synthesis route of metallic Ni and Co nanocrystallites at ~150 °C in the mixture composed of the corresponding metal nitrates and 1,3-propanediol, as reducing agent. The metal oxides NiO, CoO, Co3O4 nanocrystallites were, also, successfully synthesized by thermal decomposition at 300 °C of the hydroxycarboxylate coordination products, obtained in the redox reaction between 1,3-propanediol and Ni(II) and Co(II) nitrates. The formation of the Ni(II) and Co(II) hydroxycarboxylate complexes depends on the diol which generates the carboxylate anion, the transition metal and the process parameters. Ni(II) and Co(II) nanocomposites were also synthesized by thermal decomposition of the complex combinations formed within the pores of the hybrid silica gels. One of the purposes of the present study was to investigate the phase constitution of the composites obtained in similar synthesis conditions, from Ni(II) and Co(II) complex combinations embedded in silica gels. These gels were submitted to various thermal treatments and the changes occurring during these treatments were described by X-ray diffraction. Thermal analysis is an excellent tool for the study of the processes implied in the formation and decomposition of the Co(II) and Ni(II) carboxylate complexes. X-ray diffraction evidenced the nanometer sized metal and/or metal oxide phases.