Synthesis, characterization, and magnetic properties of α‐MnS nanocrystals

Abstract MnS nanocrystals have been prepared by a colloidal synthesis route through the reaction of MnCl 2 and S[Si(CH 3 ) 3 ] 2 in trioctylphosphineoxide. The nanocrystals were characterized using X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic properties were studied with SQUID magnetometry. X‐ray diffraction shows that the nanocrystals are of the thermodynamically stable α‐MnS (alabandite) structure. Size control was achieved by changing the concentration of the precursors. Nanocrystal sizes were measured by transmission electron microscopy, and three samples of average diameters 20, 40, and 80 nm were obtained, with narrow size distribution (σ˜9%). The zero field cooled magnetization curves for the 80‐, 40‐, and 20‐nm samples showed a cusp at 116 K, 97 K, and 50 K respectively, all smaller than the antiferromagnetic transition temperature, T N = 130 K, of bulk α‐MnS. Below T N the magnetization exhibits a paramagnetic behavior unlike typical antiferromagnetic materials. These results indicate that there is a mixture of paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases in the nanocrystals. The size dependence shows a general trend of decrease of T N with reduced particle size, indicating size dependent magnetic ordering.