Controllable preparation of nanocomposites through convenient structural modification of cobalt contained organometallic precursors: nanotubes and nanospheres with high selectivity, and their magnetic properties

Abstract

For the first time, POSS moieties were introduced to organometallic precursors, PM1 and PM2, for solid-state pyrolysis, in which PM1 contained one [Co₂(CO)₆] unit, while PM2 contained two. For comparison, their analogues, M1 and M2 without POSS groups, were also prepared. By regulating the number of [Co₂(CO)₆] moieties and introducing the POSS group, the morphology and size of the obtained nanocomposites could be well controlled: uniform nanotubes could be obtained from M2 and PM2, while uniform nanospheres from M1 and PM1. Also, the size of the obtained nanocomposites from PM1 (PM2) is much smaller than that of M1 (M2). The obtained carbon/metal nanocomposites demonstrated good magnetic properties, with Ms values up to 33.4 emu g⁻¹, making them promising candidates for practical applications.