Patent attributes
A method of preparation of spherical tricobalt tetraoxide, including at least oxidizing a bivalent cobalt salt in a wet environment and in the presence of a precipitant, a complexing agent, and an oxidant to yield spherical cobalt oxyhydroxide.cobalt hydroxide according to the following equation Co2++3OH−+O→CoOOH.Co(OH)2; oxidizing the spherical hydroxy cobalt oxyhydroxide.cobalt hydroxide to yield spherical tricobalt tetraoxide according to the following equation 6CoOOH.Co(OH)2+O→4Co3O4+9H2O; and roasting the spherical tricobalt tetraoxide at low or intermediate temperature to yield a black powder. The method is easily practiced and suitable for mass production, and the resultant spherical tricobalt tetraoxide has stable structure, reliable properties, and high activity.