Synthesis, characterization and magnetic properties of disk-shaped particles of a cobalt alkoxide: Coii(C2H4O2)

Abstract
A cobalt alkoxide, Co(OCH2CH2O), has been prepared from the reaction of cobalt acetate with ethanediol. This compound crystallizes as disk-shaped particles with diameter and thickness in the 0.4–1 µm and 100–250 nm ranges, respectively. Structural characterization (X-ray and electron diffraction) shows a layered arrangement with a brucite-like structure presenting a turbostratic disorder. The interlayer spacing and the Co⋯Co distance within the layer are c = 8.27 Å and a = 3.09 Å, respectively. UV-visible spectroscopy studies established that the Co(II) ions are located on octahedral sites. IR spectroscopy showed that the ethylene glycolate anions (OCH2CH2O)2− chelate the Co(II) cations. The magnetic properties of the compound were measured in the range of 2–300 K. Below 20 K, the compound exhibits 3D ferromagnetic order and the hysteresis loop shows a very high remanence-to-saturation ratio typical of a uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy.