One-pot synthesis of cobalt nanoparticle-embedded lamellar sheets by using inorganic complex via thermal decomposition route

Metallic cobalt nanoparticle-embedded lamellar sheets were prepared from, [bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehydato)cobalt(II)] complex as an inorganic precursor via thermal decomposition method. The steric hindrance of the precursor raises the need of using co-surfactant, therefore oleylamine (C 18 H 37 N) was applied as the only surfactant of the reaction. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The hysteresis loops of the obtained sample reveal the ferromagnetic behaviors, the coercivity (H c ) was enhanced and the saturation magnetization (M s ) was decreased relative to their respective bulk material. Solid state reaction was employed as a method to reveal the important role of surfactant in formation of new shapes with high shape anisotropies. The unique mixed morphology in which cobalt nanoparticles are embedded in cobalt nanosheets could be potential for various electronic applications.