Controllable synthesis of self-assembly Co₃O₄nanoflake microspheres for electrochemical performance

Tuning the ratios of ethanol to water, self-assembling microspheres composed of Co3O4 nanoflakes are synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of as-grown samples obviously show that the dispersive multilayered structures gradually change into micro/nanobelts and cubic blocks structures, and then into the desired self-assembled microspheres with increasing ratios of ethanol to water. Also, all the x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns evidently demonstrate that all obtained Co3O4 has cubic crystal structure. The corresponding synthesis mechanism is discussed in detail. More importantly, the unique self-assembling Co3O4 nanoflake microspheres have excellent electrochemical performance with large specific capacitance, good rate capability and excellent cycling performance, evidently presenting a potential capability of Co3O4 nanoflake microspheres to act as electrode materials for supercapacitors in sustainable power sources.