Nanoscale complex metal cyanides and thermolysis thereof

The complex metal cyanides Co3[Co(CN)6]2, ‘Ni(CN)2’, ‘Cu(CN)’ and M2[Fe(CN)6] (with M = Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+) were prepared as nanomaterials via a microemulsion approach. As-prepared materials turned out to be non-agglomerated and crystalline. In addition, particle size and shape, size distribution and color were investigated. The as-prepared complex cyanides were used as precursors for thermal decomposition to generate the pertinent oxide materials, namely Co3O4, NiO, CuO and CoFe2O4. Despite the thermal treatment, which was carried out at 520 °C, the resulting oxide particles were still on the nanoscale. Even a redispersion was possible and led to comparably low degree of agglomeration. When aiming at ‘Ni(CN)2’ and ‘Cu(CN)’ nanoscale solids have been gained, whose chemical composition and crystal structure have not been described and verified till now.

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