Synthesis and Magnetic Characterizations of Three-Dimensional Iron Sulfide Nanostructures

Three-dimensional iron sulfide nanostructures 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 9 S 8 and Fe 7 S 8, respectively. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that both the plates and nanowires are well crystallized. On the basis of the morphology of the nanostructures, a growth mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of such unique nanostructures. The magnetic properties of the iron sulfide were characterized under different conditions. It was found that the nanostructures are ferrimagnetic, which is manifested by magnetic hysteresis loops at room temperature.