The U-shaped Fe(1−x)S micro-slots: growth, characterization, and magnetic property

The micro-meter-sized Fe(1−x)S U-shaped slots can be successfully synthesized on a large scale from a β-cyclodextrin (CD)-assisted intercalation-induced growth process at 230 °C for 48 h, which uses the reaction of ferrocene, S and β-CD in ethylenediamine solvent. The structure, the morphology and the property of the products are derived from X-ray power diffraction (XRD) pattern, X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), transmission electronic microscope (TEM), thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis and magnetization measurement. The as-prepared magnetic Fe(1−x)S U-shaped slots are ferromagnetic and their magnetization at room temperature is ∼15 emu g−1. The possible growth mechanism for the micro-sized Fe(1−x)S U-shaped slots is discussed.