A rapid synthesis of cobalt cyclotetraphosphate Co2P4O12 at low temperature

The cobalt cyclotetraphosphate, Co2P4O12, was synthesized by evaporating a mixture of cobalt chloride hexahydrate, phosphoric acid and water at 70 degrees C, with further calcinations at 400 degrees C, 500 degrees C and 600 degrees C for 3 h. XRD results indicated that the Co2P4O12 compounds obtained had only monoclinic phase with space group C-2h(6) (Z=4). From FT-IR spectra, vibrational modes corresponding to internal vibrations of the P4O124- anion were identified. The morphologies and crystallite sizes for the Co2P4O12 obtained from SEM data and X-ray line broadening showed non-uniform particles and 37-68 nm, respectively. All characterization methods showed that the monoclinic phase of Co2P4O12 could be synthesized at the low temperature of 400 degrees C with short time consumption. The temperature was about 400 degrees C lower than that used in the previous synthesis method with CoCl2 as reactant, and resulted in a cost-, energy-, and time-saving method. 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.