Synthesis and characterization of magnetic iron sulfide nanowires

Large quantities of Fe1-xS (x=0.12 and 0.1-0.08) nanowires (see Figure) have been prepared by the thermal decomposition of a hybrid precursor, Fe1-xS(en)(0.5) (x=0.2-0.3, en=ethylenediamine). Removal of the amine from Fe1-xS(en)(0.5) at 200 and 300degreesC under Ar flow yields Fe7S8 and Fe1-xS (xapproximate to0.09) nanowires, respectively, with well-defined morphologies. The Fe7S8 nanowires are ferrimagnetic at room temperature.