Chemical Control of Structural and Magnetic Properties of Cobalt Nanoparticles

Abstract

Oxide-free cobalt nanoparticles (NPs) of 2.5−3 nm diameter have been synthesized in the presence of di-isobutyl aluminum hydride (DiBAH), a potential alumina source, from two different precursors: Co(η3C8H13)(η4C8H12) and Co[N(SiMe3)2]2. The NPs display very different structural and magnetic features, which are related to the difference in chemical environment at the NPs surface.