Synthesis and characterization of nickel cobaltite (NiCo2O4) obtained by the polymeric precursor method

ABSTRACT Nickel cobaltite, NiCo2O4, with a spinel-like structure has low thermal stability at around 400 °C, which causes loss of NiO, thus significantly affecting the physical and structural properties of the material. In this work, nickel cobaltite was prepared by the polymeric precursor method. The material was calcined at 350 °C and heat-treated at temperatures ranging from 450 to 650 °C. The resulting product was analyzed by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a magnetic characterization technique. The results of these analyses indicated that the nickel cobalt phase can be obtained regardless of the heat treatment applied. The magnetic analysis revealed that the magnetic behavior of the synthesized compound varied as a function of each treatment temperature.