Synthesis and catalytic performance of Co3O4 particles with octahedral crystal shape

With sodium hexametaphosphate ((NaPO3)6) as the inorganic structure-directing agent, the precursor of Co3O4 was obtained by the method of simple liquid precipitation. Then Co3O4 μm particles with octahedral crystal shape were gotten by calcinating the precursor. The physicochemical features of the octahedral Co3O4 particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transmission infrared spectra (FT–IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The catalytic activity of the Co3O4 particles for the decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was examined. The results showed that the obtained Co3O4 were mainly octahedral structure with different size. The prepared product has a good catalytic performance in thermal decomposition of AP. The results showed that addition of 10 wt% Co3O4 particles decreased the decomposition temperature by 51 °C and increased the heat of decomposition from 605 to 887 J/g.