Hierarchically porous MgCo₂O₄ nanochain networks: template-free synthesis and catalytic application

Abstract

In this work, hierarchically porous MgCo 2 O 4 nanochain networks were successfully synthesized by a novel template-free method realized via a facile solvothermal synthesis followed by a heat treatment. The morphologies of MgCo 2 O 4 precursor could be adjusted from nanosheets to nanobelts and finally to interwoven nanowires, depending on the volume ratio of diethylene glycol to deionized water in the solution. After calcination, the interwoven precursor nanowires were transformed to hierarchical MgCo 2 O 4 nanochain networks with marco-/meso-porosity, which are composed of 10–20 nm nanoparticles connected one by one. Moreover, the relative formation mechanism of the MgCo 2 O 4 nanochain networks was discussed. More importantly, when evaluated as catalytic additive for AP thermal decomposition, the MgCo 2 O 4 nanochain networks show excellent accelerating effect. It is benefited from the unique hierarchically porous network structure and multicomponent effect, which effectively accelerates ammonia oxidation and C l O 4 − species dissociation. This approach opens the way to design other hierarchically porous multicomponent metal oxides.