A Facile Synthesis of Co3O4 Hollow Microtubes by Decomposition of a Cobalt Metal–Organic Framework

In this work, we have successfully synthesized hollow microtubular crystals of the metal–organic framework (MOF) [Co2(NH2-bdc)2(dabco)]·[G] {G = H2O, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF); NH2-bdc =2-amino-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate; dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane} by a very simple coordination-modulation method that avoids the use of an external modulator. Additionally, we have obtained the corresponding hollow microtubular crystals of Co3O4 through the solid-state thermolysis of the Co-MOF material at 400 °C. The as-prepared Co3O4 crystals exhibit the typical magnetic behavior for a nanostructured material with good crystallinity. Thus, this coordination-modulation method provides a simple route for the preparation of nanostructured porous frameworks and derived oxides and opens a way to prepare new materials with advanced properties.