Synthesis and characterisation of cobalt hydroxy carbonate Co2CO3(OH)2 nanomaterials.

In an attempt to make nanofibres based upon cobalt oxides, a novel compound hydrated cobalt hydroxy carbonate was formed. This compound is related to the minerals of the rosasite mineral group. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the formed compound was a cobalt hydroxy carbonate, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displayed bundles of fibres on the micron scale in length and nanoscale in width. The morphology was compared with that of the rosasite mineral group. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) proved two bond energies for cobalt and three for oxygen in the compound. The compound was characterised by vibrational spectroscopy and the spectra related to minerals of the rosasite mineral group. The stability of the synthetic mineral was limited to temperatures below 200°C.