High catalytic activity for CO oxidation of Co3O4nanoparticles in SiO2 nanocapsules

Abstract

In this paper, rattle-type Co₃O₄@SiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared via thermal decomposition of Co₃[Co(CN)₆]₂@SiO₂ core–shell nanocubes. The uniform Co₃[Co(CN)₆]₂ nanocubes were coated with porous silica and then calcined at 550 °C for 1 h to generate a large amount of Co₃O₄ nanocrystals in a cube-shaped silica nanocapsule via thermal decomposition of a Co₃[Co(CN)₆]₂ nanocube. The nanorattles exhibit excellent catalytic activity for CO oxidation, the CO conversion rate reaches 100% at 150 °C. It is suggested that Co₃O₄ nanocrystals with clean surfaces were produced via this approach; moreover, the porous silica shell could protect Co₃O₄ nanocrystals from external contamination, which makes these novel nanostructures exhibit a remarkable catalytic performance.