On the thermal decomposition of some cobalt hydroxide nitrates

The thermal decomposition of cobalt hydroxide nitrates of single and double layered lattice type has been studied. It has been shown that both types of compounds decompose to oxide spinels, passing through stages of partial oxidation to intermediate Co(II)-Co(III) oxide hydroxide nitrates. The observed differences in the stoichiometry of the final oxide products have been associated with the lattice type of the initial hydroxide nitrate as well as with the decomposition mechanism.