Calcination

Catalysis

Engineering

Transmission electron microscopy

Nanoparticle

Metallurgy

Materials science

Chromatography

Chemical engineering

Antimony

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Characterization (materials science)

Composite material

Cobalt oxide

Analytical Chemistry (journal)

Cobalt

Chemistry

Scanning electron microscope

Antimonate

Journal of Materials Science Materials in Electronics

Cobalt antimonate (CoSb2O6) nanostructures were prepared using the microwave-assisted colloidal method, employing cobalt nitrate, antimony chloride, ethylenediamine and ethyl alcohol. The solvent was evaporated through microwave radiation at 140 W. The precursor material was dried at 200 °C and then calcined at 300, 400, 500, and 600 °C in static air. The crystalline phase of the material was found at 600 °C by means of X-ray diffraction. Morphology was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy, finding octahedral particles with an edge length between 3 and 50 µm, and other particles of nanometric size. The size of these irregularly shaped nanoparticles was estimated of ~ 17.6 nm by means of transmission electron microscopy. UV–vis analyses of semiconducting powders revealed a forbidden band of ~ 1.82 eV. For the gas detection experiments, thick films and pellets were made of CoSb2O6 powders (600 °C). The tests were carried out in air, CO, and CO2 atmospheres at different gas concentrations and operating temperatures. The cobalt antimonate nanoparticles showed high sensitivity at 300 °C and 300 ppm of CO, and a good dynamic response at 100 ppm of CO2.

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt antimonate nanostructures and their study as potential CO and CO2 sensor at low temperatures