Mechanochemically Synthesized CuFeSe2 Nanoparticles and Their Properties

E. Dutkováa, I. Škorvánek b, M.J. Sayagués c, A. Zorkovská a, J. Kováč d, and P. Baláž a aInstitute of Geotechnics, SAS, Watsonova 45, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia bInstitute of Experimental Physics, SAS, Watsonova 47, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia cInstitute of Material Science of Seville (CSIC-US), 410-92 Seville, Spain dInstitute of Electronics and Photonics, Slovak University of Technology and International Laser Centre, 812 19 Bratislava, Slovakia

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The mechanochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline CuFeSe2 particles prepared by high-energy milling in a planetary mill in an argon atmosphere from copper, iron, and selenium for 60 min is reported for the first time. The CuFeSe2 nanoparticles crystallize in tetragonal structure with mean crystallite size of about 32±1 nm. High resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements confirmed the presence of agglomerates which are formed by small nanocrystalline domains (5-40 nm). The magnetic data revealed that paramagnetic CuFeSe2 nanoparticles coexist with a small amount of ferromagnetic impurities at room temperature. The magnetic transition towards a weak ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic behavior occurs in CuFeSe2 at approximately 79 K. The band gap of the CuFeSe2 particles is 0.95 eV which is wider than the band gap in bulk materials (0.16 eV), which could be in many aspects of application more beneficial.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.131.1156 PACS numbers: 81.05.Hd, 81.07.Wx, 81.20.Wk