Polycrystalline films of cobalt oxides (Co 3 O 4 and CoOOH) with and without Sm were fabricated on platinum substrates by electrochemical oxidation in an autoclave. The cobalt oxides were directly crystallized at temperatures higher than about 100 ± C during electrolysis. The composition of the cobalt oxides strongly depended on the electrode potential; i.e., Co 3 O 4 and CoOOH were formed in non-noble and relatively noble potential regions, respectively. When Sm was incorporated in the CoOOH by the electrolysis in solutions containing Sm 3+ , only the c lattice constant was increased due to an expansion in the layer structure.