Porous cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanorods: Facile syntheses, optical property and application in lithium-ion batteries

We developed a facile synthetic route of porous cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanorods via a microemulsion-based method in combination with subsequent calcination process. The porous structure was formed by controlled decomposition of the microemulsion-synthesized precursor CoC2O4 nanorods without destruction of the original morphology. The as-prepared Co3O4 nanorods, consisting of small nanoparticles with diameter of 80-150 nm, had an average diameter of 200 nm and a length of 3-5 μm. The morphology and structure of synthesized samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The phase and composition were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The optical property of Co3O4 nanorods was investigated. Moreover, the porous Co3O4 nanorods exhibited high electrochemical performance when applied as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, which gives them good potential applications. - Graphical abstract: The porous Co3O4 nanorods synthesized via a microemulsion-based method in combination with subsequent calcination were applied in the negative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries and exhibited high electrochemical performance.