Bioinspired shape controlled antiferromagnetic Co3O4 with prism like-anchored octahedron morphology: A facile green synthesis using Manihot esculenta Crantz extract

Several strategies have been established for the synthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles with tunable sizes, morphologies and magnetic properties that involve the use of environmentally malignant organic solvent and high temperature conditions. Herein, we report on a facile green approach to synthesize antiferromagnetic Co₃O₄ mesoscale particles, defect free with prism liked-anchored octahedron morphology. The structural and magnetic properties of the as-synthesized Co₃O₄ nanoparticles were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis (EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled mass (MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The structural properties indicate that the as-synthesized mesostructured Co₃O₄ particles are pure crystallites of face-centred cubic phase Co₃O₄. The Co₃O₄ mesoparticles had bandgap of 2.86 and 2.54 eV and showed antiferromagnetic behaviour.