Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles: Characterization and its Electrocatalytic Activity towards Nitrobenzene†

Cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by thermal decomposition of cobalt hydroxide synthesized from cobalt acetate, ammonium hydroxide and 10% glycerol. The cobalt oxide nanoparticles calcined at 450 °C were characterized by using XRD. The XRD confirms the crystallinity and crystal structure of the sample. It also shows that the diffraction peak are broadened which reveals the narrow size distribution of the cobalt oxide nanoparticles. In addition, the average grain size, lattice parameter values also calculated using XRD. The FT-IR analysis confirms the functional group presents in the cobalt oxide nanoparticles. The SEM image of cobalt oxide nanoparticles shows the nanosized agglomerated particles. The electrochemical detection of nitrobenzene (NB) by cobalt oxide nanoparticles was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The result concludes that the cobalt oxide nanoparticles have higher activity for the detection of nitrobenzene.