Formation of composite nanomaterial MnPS3 layered structure intercalated with pyridine

Intercalated compound of pyridine into layered MnPS3 has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Infrared (IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy connected with chemical analysis (SEM-EDEX). It is found that leaving the intercalated compound in open atmosphere for a number of days influences the existing phase and the arranged orientation of the pyridine in the interlayer gap (6.4 Å) of the MnPS3 lattice. The estimated crystallite size varied with leaving the intercalated sample in open atmosphere and reached a lowest value of about 26 nm. Three phases coexisted together as confirmed by XRD: the 0 0 1′ phase (with lattice spacing 9.6 Å); the 0 0 1′′ phase (with lattice spacing of 10.7 Å); and other phase with lattice spacing of 7.3 Å. The phase transformation occurs between the two phases of lattice spacing 10.7 Å and 9.6 Å. Before and after intercalation, the MnPS3 exhibits paramagnetic behaviour at room temperature.