Synthesis of ferromagnetic single-crystalline cobalt nanobelts via a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal reduction process

Nanobelts of hexagonal close-packed cobalt have been synthesized by a hydrothermal reduction process at 160 degrees C. The as-synthesized nanobelts, with a rectangular cross section, are 200-500 nm in diameter, 50-80 nm in thickness and a few hundreds of micrometres in length. The Co nanobelts are single crystalline and grow preferentially along the [00 1] direction. Furthermore, the coexisting nanosheets with zigzag edges are 2-4 mu m in diameter and several tens of nanometres in thickness. The hysteresis loop at room temperature of the as-obtained product shows a ferromagnetic behaviour. In addition, some influential factors as regards the morphologies of the final products were also discussed.