Low temperature solvothermal synthesis of pristine Co3O4 nanoparticles as potential supercapacitor

Cobalt oxide -based nanoparticles were prepared by solvothermal method (140 degrees C and 8 h) by using Cobalt acetylacetonate and cobalt III acetylacetonate in a polar protic solvent, where H2O2 acted as reducing agent facilitating the oxidation. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of pure cubic structure, with crystallite size nm. Spectroscopic analysis using FTIR and Raman indicated the presence of several functional groups and brational modes, thereby confirming once again the purity of the spinel cubic structure. Nanosheet like mor- phology was observed by HRSEM and polycrystalline nature was confirmed by SAED pattern. UV-VIS-DRS analysis indicated the presence of two energy band gap values, and decreased with increasing reaction tem- perature. Surprisingly, a weak ferromagnetic order has been detected and was attributed to finite size, shape and uncompensated surface spin effects. The prepared Co3O4 nanoparticles exhibited high electrochemical perfor- mance brought out the pseudocapacitive behavior with high specific capacitance.