Size-controlled liquid phase synthesis of colloidally stable Co3O4 nanoparticles

Abstract

Spinel cobalt(II,III) oxide (Co₃O₄) represents a p-type semiconductor exhibiting promising functional properties in view of applications in a broad range of technological fields including magnetic materials and gas sensors as well as sustainable energy conversion systems based on photo- and electrocatalytic water splitting. Due to their high specific surface area, nanoparticle-based structures appear particularly promising for such applications. However, precise control over the diameter and the particle size distribution is required to achieve reproducible size-dependent properties. We herein introduce a synthetic strategy based on the decomposition of hydroxide precursors for the size-controlled preparation of purified Co₃O₄ nanoparticles with narrow size distributions adjustable in the range between 3–13 nm. The particles exhibit excellent colloidal stability. Their dispersibility in diverse organic solvents further facilitates processing (i.e. ligand exchange) and opens exciting perspectives for controlled self-assembly of the largely isometric primary particles into mesoscale structures. In view of potential applications, functional properties including absorption characteristics and electrocatalytic activity were probed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. In these experiments, low amounts of dispersed Co₃O₄ particles demonstrate strong light absorbance across the entire visible range and immobilized nanoparticles exhibit a comparably low overpotential towards the oxygen evolution reaction in electrocatalytic water splitting.