Synthesis of Cu and Co metal oxide nanoparticles from thermal decomposition of tartrate complexes

Cu and Co metal oxide nanoparticles were obtained from the thermal decomposition of the corresponding tartrate complexes ([M(C4H2O6)n]m, M = Cu(II), Co(II)). The complexes were prepared by metathesis reactions in water and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Thermal gravimetric analysis and high resolution mass spectrometry. The metal complexes were calcined at 500 °C for 5 h and the metal oxides obtained were characterized by FTIR, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. XRD analysis showed that the obtained oxides are crystalline and corresponded to the CuO and Co3O4 phases. Crystal size, shape and crystallinity were determined by SEM and TEM.