Synthesis and Thermal Conversions of Unsaturated Cobalt(II) Monocarboxylates: Precursors for Metal Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

Cobalt(II) salts of unsaturated monocarboxylic acids (acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, sorbic acid, 4-pentynoic acid, crotonic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid) are prepared. The prepared compounds are characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry. Cobalt-containing nanocomposites are produced by the thermal decomposition of the prepared carboxylates and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction. The enthalpies of reaction (ΔH_r°) for the formation of cobalt(II) salts of unsaturated monocarboxylic acids are calculated by the PM3 semiempirical quantum-chemical method. A correlation is found between the mean diameter (d_mean) of nanoparticles in nanocomposites and ΔH_r°.