Synthesis, structural and magnetic properties of self-organized single-crystalline nanobricks of chalcopyrite CuFeS2

A thermal pyrolysis method has been developed to synthesize the tetragonal phase of chalcopyrite magnetic semiconductor CuFeS2 nanoparticles. All nanoparticles have the same anisotropic brick-like shape, and the “bricks” are self-organized in a certain orientation, creating well-ordered nanocomposites. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction data show that every nanobrick is a single crystal with a layered atomic structure and characteristic dimensions of about 5 nm × 20 nm in plane. Magnetic measurements support the antiferromagnetic spin structure and reveal the appearance of a small ferromagnetic component below 60 K. Magnetic anomalies observed in the zero-field cooled magnetization curves at low temperatures may be related to an appearance of magnetic moment at the Cu ion site. The Mössbauer spectra show that only about 50% of Fe atoms are in the magnetically ordered α-phase of chalcopyrite. The remaining Fe is non-magnetic and may be located either in the γ-phase of chalcopyrite or in isocubanite.