Correlation among local structure, magnetic, structural and electronic properties in polyol synthesized iron sulfide (FeS2) nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 861; p. 157977
• Main Authors: Tripathi, J., Chandrawat, G.S., Singh, J., Tripathi, S., Sharma, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 25.04.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Crystallites; EDX; Fourier transforms; FTIR; Infrared spectroscopy; Iron; Iron sulfides; Magnetic properties; Mossbauer spectroscopy; Mössbauer; Nanoparticles; Oxidation; Pyrite; Quadrupoles; SEM; Spectrum analysis; Valence; VESTA and XRD; Nanoparticles; EDX; Mössbauer; SEM; FTIR; VESTA and XRD
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.157977

A comparatively new and important cost and time effective Polyol method has been utilized for the preparation of FeS2nanoparticles (NPs), while their crystallite size, bonding as well as nearest neighbor atomic information was obtained from XRD, FTIR, Mössbauer, FE-SEM, EDX spectroscopy techniques. The average crystallite size was found to be ∼28 nm and a very small tangential strain due to the spherical shape of the particle was seen in the prepared sample. The bond length of Fe–S bond was estimated to be ∼0.29 nm and that of S–S bond was ∼0.22 nm using VESTA software confirming the Pyrite FeS2 structure in agreement with the XRD of these NPs. Also, the sample shows an octahedral geometry. Both XRD and Mössbauer spectra indicate that no impurity phase is present in these Pyrite NPs. Using Mössbauer, the average electric Quadrupole splitting (ΔEQ) and average isomer shift (δ), for Pyrite FeS2 at 300 K are found to be 0.596 ± 0.0039 mm/s and 0.311 ± 0.0023 mm/s respectively. From the Isomer shift, +2 oxidation state is confirmed. The FTIR revealed various vibrations modes of FeS2 nanoparticles (FeS, S–S and Fe–S bonds at their respective positions). Corresponding FE-SEM and EDX measurements revealed the formation of agglomerated spherical particles with the Fe:S ratio of ∼1:1.46 confirming the pyrite structure. •FeS2 nanoparticles (NP) were prepared by cost and time effective Polyol method.•Small tangential strain was observed among ∼28 nm size crystallites.•Pyrite NP have Fe–S and S–S bond lengths of ∼0.29 nm and ∼0.22 nm respectively.•From the Isomer shift in Mössbauer spectrum, +2 oxidation state is confirmed.•Agglomerated spherical particles with the Fe: S ratio of ∼1:1.46 confirm the pyrite structure.