Analysis and evaluation of structural properties of Co3O4 microparticles obtained at low temperature

In the present research, synthesis of cobalt oxide Co3O4 was carried out using sol-gel technique with subsequent heat treatment at 225 and 235 °C. The final product obtained characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), showing a pure crystalline phase Co3O4, cell parameters a=b=c=8.071 Å, volume 525.7 Å3. particle size between 2.37 2.77 µm, which indicated that structural transformations from Co to induced an increase in size. Through Rietveld refinement, interatomic distances inclination angles Co1, Co2, Co3 polyhedra were analyzed order establish behavior (II, III) UV-vis analysis allowed determining band gap (Eg) values 1.6 eV first region 0.97 second. Scanning electron microscopy images showed particles agglomerated increasing calcination temperature exhibited larger particles. This work presents detailed Vesta software refinement data.