Synthesis and characterization of CoMnO nanofibers supported on a graphite disk: Novel strategy for nanofibers immobilization

• MnO-doped Co nanofibers are introduced for the first time using the electrospinning.
• The introduced nanofibers are supported on graphite substrate.
• Study the electrical properties indicated that the NFs can be utilized as semiconductors.
• The introduced nanofibers are magnetically clean.

In this study, for the first time, CoMnO nanofibers are introduced as new member in the CoMnO nanostructures family. To overcome the handling problem, the introduced nanofibers have been prepared as a thin layer attaching a graphite disk. CoMnO nanofibers have been prepared by using the electrospinning technique. Briefly, a sol–gel composed of poly(vinyl alcohol), cobalt acetate and manganese acetate have been electrospun, the utilized collector was a disk made of polyacrylonitrile polymer (PAN). Calcination of the proposed collector in argon atmosphere led to produce a graphite disk attiring with MnO-doped Co nanofibers. Study the electrical properties of the prepared disk revealed that these nanofibers behave as a semiconductor. Moreover, two band gaps (1.65 and 5.35 eV) have been detected upon study the optical properties of the introduced nanofibers. Incorporation of the MnO caused to strong decrease in the remanent magnetization of the proposed nanofibers (7.35 emu/g) compared to the pristine Co nanofibers (51.05 emu/g). Decrease the remanent magnetization (Mr) is a desired property for the ferromagnetic materials as the material having low Mr is considered a magnetically clean material which provides various applications.

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