Abstract
China rose-like structured beta-Co(OH)(2) was fabricated by a facile and surfactant free solvothermal method. The self-assembly process of the 3D flower-like structure was preliminarily explored via time-dependent observation. The chemical transformation achieved by thermal treatment from brucite-like beta-Co(OH)(2) to spinel Co3O4 was investigated in detail, while the original flower-like framework of the precursor was preserved during the entire process. With increase in the temperature of heat treatment, the specific surface area decreased correspondingly. Meanwhile, propagation of cracks and the following cavitation progress were realized on petal-like flakelets. Topotactic nucleation and crystallization in the [111] direction of spinel-structured Co3O4 inheriting the [0001] direction of hexagonal structured beta-Co(OH)(2) were analyzed in detail. The catalytic performance of the obtained Co3O4 materials on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was analyzed. It was fortunately found that samples annealed at 280 degrees C could lower the thermal decomposition temperature of AP from 450 degrees C to 245 degrees C, when the obtained Co3O4 made up 4% w/w of the mixture. This excellent performance is of great practical significance in the development of solid rocket fuels.