Layered hybrid organic-inorganic nanobelts exhibiting a field-induced magnetic transition

Here we present the synthesis of layered, ferrimagnetic, Co-based organic-inorganic hybrid nanobelts formed through self-organization in a non-aqueous process. The belts are formed solvothermally by reacting cobalt(iii) acetylacetonate with benzoic acid in benzyl alcohol at 150 °C. Benzoic acid not only acts as an intercalation molecule for the formation of the layered organic-inorganic hybrid structure, but also as a shape-directing agent for manipulating the product morphology. These nanobelts are typically obtained with a width of 50-200 nm, thickness of 10-20 nm and length of several hundreds of microns. Furthermore, magnetic measurements show that the resulting layered nanobelts exhibit a ferrimagnetic transition at 40 K and superparamagnetic behavior below 40 K. Moreover, the upturn of the magnetization at 5 K and H = 40 kOe indicate a smooth field-induced magnetic transition with a critical field of approximately 4 T.