Solvothermal synthesis of Co3O4/Al2O3 hollow core–shell microspheres for the catalytic oxidation of CO

Liangmiao Zhang; Taiang Liu; Xin Zhao; Na Qian; Pan Xiong; Wenjing Ma; Wencong Lu; Yanfeng Gao; Hongjie Luo

doi:10.1039/C4CE00343H

Solvothermal synthesis of Co₃O₄/Al₂O₃ hollow core–shell microspheres for the catalytic oxidation of CO†

Liangmiao Zhang,*^a Taiang Liu,^b Xin Zhao,^b Na Qian,^b Pan Xiong,^b Wenjing Ma,^b Wencong Lu,*^b Yanfeng Gao^c and Hongjie Luo^ac

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* Corresponding authors

^a Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (SIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Dingxi 1295, 311 Room, HA building, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200050, China
E-mail: lmzhang@mail.shu.edu.cn
Fax: +86 21 6613 3513
Tel: +86 21 6613 8066

^b Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
E-mail: wclu@shu.edu.cn

^c School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China

Abstract

A facile template-free solvothermal strategy has been developed for the synthesis of uniform and hollow core–shell Co₃O₄/Al₂O₃ microspheres composed of numerous tiny nanorods. The morphology, structure, and composition of the spheres have been investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, H₂-temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The specific surface area and pore-size distribution of the obtained products as determined by gas sorption measurements show that the core–shell microspheres exhibit a high surface area and porosity. The formation of the hollow structure involves a trisodium citrate (TSC)-assisted Ostwald ripening process. The structure and factors that govern the shape evolution of the core–shell Co₃O₄/Al₂O₃ microspheres have been carefully studied, such as the Co wt% content, the TSC/Al ratio and the temperature. The catalytic activity of the as-prepared core–shell Co₃O₄/Al₂O₃ microspheres has been evaluated for CO catalytic oxidation. Their high performance may be attributed to their large specific surface area, high porosity and mesoporous structure.

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Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C4CE00343H
Article type: Paper
Submitted: 17 Feb 2014
Accepted: 08 Apr 2014
First published: 08 Apr 2014

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CrystEngComm, 2014,16, 6126-6134

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Solvothermal synthesis of Co₃O₄/Al₂O₃ hollow core–shell microspheres for the catalytic oxidation of CO

L. Zhang, T. Liu, X. Zhao, N. Qian, P. Xiong, W. Ma, W. Lu, Y. Gao and H. Luo, CrystEngComm, 2014, 16, 6126 DOI: 10.1039/C4CE00343H

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