Solvothermal synthesis and magnetic properties of β-Co₂P nanorods

Hexagonal high temperature phase β-Co₂P nanorods with a diameter of around 50 nm were synthesized via a mild solvothermal route. The reaction was carried out at 180 °C using cobalt chloride hexahydrate (CoCl₂ · 6H₂O) as Co source and yellow phosphorous as P source. The composition, structure as well as morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The magnetic susceptibility curve indicates that the β-Co₂P nanorods show canted antiferromagnetic state, different from the paramagnetic state of orthorhombic low temperature phase β-Co₂P.