Template-free hydrothermal synthesis and gas-sensitivity of hollow-structured Cu0.3Co2.7O4 microspheres

Hollow-structured Cu0.3Co2.7O4 microspheres have been synthesized by a simple one-pot template-free hydrothermal method with copper sulfate, cobalt acetate and ammonia as raw materials. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, selected area electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and BET measurements. The research results show that the hollow Cu0.3Co2.7O4 microspheres consist of single-crystalline nanocubes with the diameter of about 20 nm. The formation mechanism of hollow Cu0.3Co2.7O4 microspheres is suggested as Ostwald ripening in a solid-solution-solid process, and Cu0.3Co2.7O4 microspheres are mesoporous containing two pore sizes of 3.3 and 5.9 nm. The as-prepared Cu0.3Co2.7O4 sensors have optimal gas responses to 50x10(-6) mg/m(3) C2H5OH at 190 degrees C.

Automated summary

Hollow-structured Cu0.3Co2.7O4 microspheres were successfully synthesized via a one-pot template-free hydrothermal method, and characterized using various techniques. The formation mechanism was identified as Ostwald ripening in a solid-solution-solid process. Additionally, the Cu0.3Co2.7O4 microspheres exhibited mesoporous structure with two pore sizes, and showed optimal gas responses to ethanol at 190 degrees C.