Solvent-free Synthesis of Hexagonal Iron Sulfide Nanoflowers

Employing green and economic solvent-free synthesis route, hexagonal iron sulfide (Fe₇S₈) nanoflowers were successfully synthesized for the first time. In the experiment, ferric hexadecylxanthate was used as the precursor, and hexagonal iron sulfide (Fe₇S₈) nanoflowers were obtained by thermal decomposition of the precursor at 260°C without any additional solvent or inert gas protection. The as-prepared iron sulfide nanoflowers were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The characterization results indicated that the nanoflowers had uniform size distribution with an average size of about 160 nm. The proposed strategy provides a possible general route for the synthesis of other metal chalcogenide nanostructures.