Influence of Synthesis Temperature on the Growth and Surface Morphology of Co(3)O(4) Nanocubes for Supercapacitor Applications

A facile hydrothermal route to control the crystal growth on the synthesis of Co(3)O(4) nanostructures with cube-like morphologies has been reported and tested its suitability for supercapacitor applications. The chemical composition and morphologies of the as-prepared Co(3)O(4) nanoparticles were extensively characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Varying the temperature caused considerable changes in the morphology, the electrochemical performance increased with rising temperature, and the redox reactions become more reversible. The results showed that the Co(3)O(4) synthesized at a higher temperature (180 °C) demonstrated a high specific capacitance of 833 F/g. This is attributed to the optimal temperature and the controlled growth of nanocubes.