Sol-gel synthesis of nanostructured cobalt oxide in four different ionic liquids
Sherief A. Al Kiey, Alaa A. Sery, Hala K. Farag
Abstract
Abstract In this paper we report on the sol-gel synthesis of cobalt oxide in four different ionic liquids with two different cations and anions. The employed ionic liquids are; 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([EMIm]TfO), 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([Py 1,4 ]TfO), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([EMIm]TFSA), and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidiniumbis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([Py 1,4 ]TFSA). The influence of the cation and anion of the ionic liquids on the morphology of the synthesized oxides was explored. The results showed that octahydron-shaped Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles with different average sizes depending on the type of the employed ionic liquid. The imidazolium cation was found to play a significant role in reducing the particle size of the synthesized Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The samples prepared in the imidazolium-based ionic liquids showed smaller particle sizes than those of the samples prepared in the pyrrolidinium-based ionic liquids. The shape of the particles of the synthesized Co 3 O 4 was not affected by the type of the ionic liquids. Graphical abstract