Synthesis and magnetic characterizations of three-dimensional iron sulfide nanostructures

Three-dimensional iron sulfide nanostractures have been synthesized by a chemical evaporation method. Scanning electron microscopy measurements indicate that the iron sulfide has a unique three-dimensional dumbbell-like nanostructure that consists of hexagonal plates and nanowires with compositions of Fe ₉S₈ and Fe₇S₈, respectively. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that both the plates and nanowires are well crystallized. On the basis of the morphology of the nanostractures, a growth mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of such unique nanostractures. The magnetic properties of the iron sulfide were characterized under different conditions. It was found that the nanostractures are ferrimagnetic, which is manifested by magnetic hysteresis loops at room temperature.