Shape Control of Cobalt Carbonate Particles by a Hydrothermal Process in a Mixed Solvent: An Efficient Precursor to Nanoporous Cobalt Oxide Architectures and Their Sensing Property

Shape-controlled synthesis of CoCO3 crystals has been achieved by a hydrothermal process in a mixed solvent of water and ethanol (or glycerol). Uniform CoCO3 crystals with novel structures can be fabricated by tuning the volume ratio of water and ethanol (or glycerol). The results demonstrated that the as-prepared CoCO3 crystal can act as an efficient precursor for production of nanoporous Co3O4 particles with pore sizes of 2.5 and 60 nm by calcination at 500 degrees C. The nanoporous Co3O4 Particles show sensitive response and reversibility in sensing performance.