Host-mediated synthesis of cobalt aluminate/γ-alumina nanoflakes: a dispersible composite pigment with high catalytic activities.

Cobalt aluminate/γ-alumina (CoAl(2)O(4)/γ-Al(2)O(3)) nanocomposite pigment with mesoporous structure has been synthesized. The method simply involves adsorption of Co(2+) ion on the surface of a commercially available boehmite (AlOOH) powder followed by the reaction of Co(2+) and AlOOH at relatively low temperature (500 °C) to obtain CoAl(2)O(4)/γ-Al(2)O(3) composite nanopowders. The formation of γ-Al(2)O(3) from boehmite induces the in situ generation of isostructural CoAl(2)O(4) (both crystallize as cubic spinel) at such a low temperature. The obtained intense blue powder of optimal composition (53.6 wt % CoAl(2)O(4) in γ-Al(2)O(3)) can be dispersed in glycerol and characterized by UV-visible, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, TEM, and nitrogen sorption analyses. Raman studies confirm the formation of CoAl(2)O(4) phase in γ-Al(2)O(3). TEM studies reveal the formation of flake shaped (5-10 nm in width and 10-25 nm in length) nanopowders, and these flakes are assembled to form mesoporous structure. The specific surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter of this powder are estimated to be ~118 m(2) g(-1), 0.1375 cm(3) g(-1), and 4.65 nm, respectively. This composite nanopowder has been used as an active catalyst for the decomposition of H(2)O(2) at room temperature and the decomposition follows the first order kinetics with rate constant value close to 2.3 × 10(-2) min(-1). This pigment nanopowder can be reused for several cycles without noticeable degradation of its original catalytic activity.