NCIGE-2013 ISBN 978-81-922256-9-2

STUDY OF QUANTUM CONFINEMENT AND SURFACE PLASMON

RESONANCE IN Co3O4 QUANTUM DOTS
K R Nemade, S A Waghuley*

Department of Physics, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati 444 602, India.
E-mail: krnemade@gmail.com

*Department of Physics, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati 444 602, India.
E-mail: sandeepwaghuley@sgbau.ac.in

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the quantum confinement and surface plasmon resonance in cobalt oxide (Co 3O4)
quantum dots (QDs). The surface plasmon resonance investigation is an insightful technique for the analysis of optical
properties of metal oxide QDs. The Co3O4 QDs were synthesized through chemical route. The quantum confinement
was determined using hyperbolic band model. The strong confinement regime was observed in Co 3O4 QDs. The surface
plasmon resonance was studied in range 300-400 nm.

Index Terms: Quantum confinement, Quantum dots, Surface Plasmon Resonance

I Introduction
Cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanomaterials have attracted
special attention because of their captivating properties
and potential applications in wide-ranging sectors
including gas sensors, active materials for
electrochemical energy storage and conversion,
heterogeneous catalysts, electrochromic devices, solar
energy absorbers, and magnetic materials [1]. Lithium
ion batteries are currently the leading power source for
handy electronic devices. The nanostructured Co3O4
have recently been demonstrated as lithium ion batteries
electrodes with enhanced properties [2]. The anode
material for lithium ion batteries is discovered in 2000.
Co3O4 can deliver three times larger than the theoretical
capacity of currently used graphite [1]. In the light of
above discussion, it is essential to study the optical
properties of Co3O4. In the present work, we employed
theUV-VIS technique to study the optical properties
such as quantum confinement and surface plasmon
resonance. The SPR spectroscopy routinely detects
various analytes with picomolar sensitivity using
standard absorption spectrometers. The SPR
investigation is a insightful technique for the analysis of
optical properties of metal oxide nanoparticles. The
technique requires little in the way of specialized
equipment and can be performed with a standard
ultraviolet-visible spectrometer [3].In present
was added in the solution. The reaction was stand for 4
h. The precipitate so obtained was kept for centrifuge at
300 rpm for 30 min. After this procedure, the solution
was separated into two gradations. At the bottom pink
layer of Co3O4 QDs observed and over it more
transparent and dispersed layer appears. This
centrifuged precipitate was collected through cellulose
nitrate filter paper. The filtrate dried at room
temperature for over night in vacuum chamber and then
sintered at 100°C for 3 h.
Co(NO3)2 + C6H12N4  Co3O4 +C6N6 + 6H2O
(1)
XXIII. III RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fig.1 indicating the structural and phase purity of
Co3O4 QDs. There are six prominent peaks observed in
the XRD pattern, (220), (311), (400), (422), (511), and
(440) which are characteristic peaks of Co3O4 QDs.
This is also agree with standard cubic structure of
Co3O4 (JCPDS Card No. 42-1467) [4]. No other peaks
of impurity and precursor are observed. The average
crystallite size was determined using the Debye-
Scherrer equation, which was found to be 9.2 nm.
Intensity (A.U.)

investigation, Co3O4 QDs were synthesized using

chemical route. The prepared samples were
characterized by XRD, TEM and UV-VIS analysis.

XXII. II EXPERIMENTAL
The Co3O4 was synthesized by chemical method. The
hexamethylele tetramine (HMT) with concentration (1 2 Position
M) was dissolved in 30 ml double distilled water Fig. 1. XRD pattern of Co3O4 QDs
separately. After rigorous stirring, 1 M cobalt nitrate

8th-9th Feb. 2013 235

NCIGE-2013
Fig. 2 depicts the TEM images of Co3O4 QDs. This
indicates the nano-crystalline nature of the sample. The
average crystallite size of Co3O4 QDs obtained from
TEM analysis is 10 nm, which agree with the value
from XRD analysis.
Fig. 2. TEM image of Co3O4 QDs
The result of optical transmission spectra of Co 3O4
QDs is shown in Fig. 3. The sharp absorption at around
251 nm is observed in UV-VIS spectrum. The sharp
absorption in UV region at 251 nm confirmed the
presence of quantum confinement.
Fig. 3. UV-VIS spectra of Co3O4 QDs
UV-Vis absorption spectrophotometer is commonly
used to investigate the surface plasmon resonance
phenomenon. The collective oscillation frequency of
conduction electron in metal oxide termed as plasmons
frequency. The characteristic frequency of plasmons is
given in Eq.2 [5]
p=(Ne2/me)1/2 (2)
where p is the plasma frequency, N is the
conduction electron density, e is the electron charge, me
is the electron effective mass and  is the vacuum
dielectric permittivity. The values of transmission
wavelength, plasmon frequency, and conduction
electron density are listed in table 1.
Table 1. Values of Transmission wavelength,
Plasmon frequency, and Conduction electron density
Transmissio
n Plasmon Conduction
wavelength frequency electron density
(nm) (p)(Hz) (N)(m-3)
251 1.19 x 1015 4.86 x 1026
XXIV. CONCLUSIONS
8th-9th Feb. 2013
ISBN 978-81-922256-9-2
The UV-VIS spectroscopy is very simple technique
to study the quantum confinment and surface plasmon
resonance. The XRD analysis pointed out the formation
and phase purity of Co3O4 QDs. The average crystallite
size was found to be in good agreement with TEM
image. The surface plasmon frequency was found to be
1.19 x 1015 Hz whereas, the conduction electron density
found to be 4.86 x 1026 m-3.
XXV. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Authors are very much thankful to Head, Department
of Physics Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University,
Amravati for providing necessary facilities.
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