Preparation of cobalt oxalate powders with the presence of a pulsed electromagnetic field

The size and morphology of cobalt oxalate powders are the keys to metal cobalt powder production. Spheroidic and fine cobalt oxalate powders were prepared by conventional precipitation when a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) was introduced. The phase structures of the produces were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were used to observe the morphologies of the cobalt oxalate powders. Thermal analyses were performed using TG–DSC thermogravimetric analyzer. Meanwhile, a possible mechanism was proposed based on the interaction between pulsed electromagnetic field and cobalt oxalate cluster.