Plasma-Chemical Synthesis and Properties of Oxide Compounds of Cobalt
Authors: Frolova Liliya A , Sergeyeva Olha V 
Published: November 2022

To date, the possibilities of using metal oxide particles in various fields have been developed [1]. At the same time, their characteristics largely depend on the method of preparation, which usually determines their structure, size, and physicochemical properties [2].

Among the methods for obtaining nanosized particles, one can single out methods of green synthesis [3], electrochemical [4], electropulse [5], and plasmachemical [6] synthesis based on the reduction or oxidation of metal ions in solutions under favorable conditions, followed by aggregation of nanoparticles.

The purpose of this work is to analyze the technology for the synthesis of cobalt oxide compounds using contact nonequilibrium low-temperature plasma and to determine the directions for its further improvement.

The object of the study was the process of obtaining particles of cobalt oxide using contact non-equilibrium low-pressure plasma during the processing of a liquid medium.

The study was carried out using laboratory equipment and software modules of the HSC Chemistry 5.11 package. To find the preliminary conditions for the formation of interphase boundaries, diagrams were used in the coordinates of the E-pH potential of the aquatic environment (Pourbaix diagrams). It has been established that, depending on the initial state of Co(OH)2 in solution, the mass fraction of oxygen in the precipitate can change. In this case, the addition of hydrogen peroxide leads to a decrease in the proportion of hydroxide compounds in sediments. X-ray phase analysis showed the presence of CoO, CoOOH, Co3O4, β-Co(OH)2, Co in dry sediments. It has been established that the particle sizes lie in the range of 10 – 110 nm. The micrographs confirm the agreement between the calculated values and the experimental data.

The phase composition of the deposit is influenced by the following factors: current density and anion concentration, process temperature. Increasing the temperature increases the diffusion coefficient but requires a higher current density to produce a powder. It has been established that a decrease in the liquid layer contributes to an increase in the yield of oxide compounds. The results of the analysis allow us to conclude that when using the technologies of plasma-chemical processing of liquid media to obtain compounds of the ultra- and nanoscale range, it becomes necessary to choose the parameters that are optimal for this process. The results of the analysis allow us to conclude that this technology can be optimized by controlling the initial pH of the solution; use of the spent solution in a container with the initial solution for its acidification; refinement of the reactor block for treating the solution in a film mode or close to it; choice of rational parameters for sludge drying.

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