A simple microwave-assisted route to prepare black cobalt, Co3O4

Abstract

In this communication, we report a novel microwave-assisted decomposition reaction of cobalt nitrate hexahydrate, Co(NO3)(2) center dot 6H(2)O. Using microwave processing (10 min, 2.45 GHz), phase-pure tricobalt tetroxide (black cobalt, Co3O4) was obtained. The compound was characterized by x-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy.