A facile one-pot synthesis of higher yield porphyrin functionalized Co3O4 nanoparticles

Porphyrins functionalized Co3O4 nanoparticles were prepared firstly via a facile one-step method. The high yield of prophyrin functionalized Co3O4 nanoparticles is more than 90%. •Por-Co3O4 NPs were first prepared via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method.•The yield of porphyrin-Co3O4 nanoparticles is more than 90%.•FT-IR reveals the coordination interaction between porphyin molecules and Co3O4.•Ethanol and the appropriate temperature are necessary in this experiment. Porphyrin functionalized Co3O4 nanoparticles were first prepared via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The functionalized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed the coordination interaction between porphyrin molecules and Co3O4. The high yield of prophyrin functionalized Co3O4 nanoparticles is more than 90%. The phase, morphology and size of as-prepared nanoparticles were dramatically affected by the ratio of solvents, temperature and porphyrins with different substituents, respectively. Experimental results revealed that ethanol and the appropriate temperature were necessary for the formation of single-phase Co3O4. Furthermore, a probable growth mechanism of the formation of porphyrin functionalized Co3O4 nanoparticles was proposed.