An Investigation of the Structural, Morphological, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Electrospun Co3O4 Fibres

The aim of this work is the characterization of the Co3O4 fibres, prepared by the electrospinning method. The investigation of the structural, morphological,optical, and magnetic properties of electrospun fibres at two different calcination temperatures was conducted by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Diffuse Reflectance Spectra (DRS), and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). XRD indicates the cubic phase of the calcined Co3O4 fibres. The microstructural parameters such as crystallite size and its distribution are determined from the X-ray diffraction pattern analysis using the whole powder pattern modeling (WPPM) approach. The results obtained from the X-ray diffraction pattern analysis and crystallite size distribution shows an increase in the crystallite size with calcination temperature. The SEM images show the formation of randomly oriented fibres with diameters in the range of 200-250 nm after calcination. The DRS results show a decrease in the band gap energy with increasing calcination temperature. The magnetic analysis performed by VSM, confirms a paramagnetic phase of fibres at elevated calcination temperatur.