Controlled assembly of monodisperse c-cobalt-based nanocrystals

General synthetic routes to monodisperse e-cobalt (β-Mn type phase) nanocrystals (e-Co) and controlled assembly of these nanocrystals are presented in this paper. The e-Co particles are obtained by superhydride reduction of cobalt chloride (anhydrous or hexahydrate) in a high temperature solution phase (200°C) in the presence of a combination of long chain diol, oleic acid and trialkylphosphine. Monodisperse nanocrystals are isolated by size selective precipitation. As synthesized cobalt particles are each a single crystal with a complex cubic structure related to the beta phase of elemental manganese (β-Mn). Self-assembly of these uniform cobalt particles on solid substrates is induced by evaporation of the carrier solvent producing 2-D and 3-D magnetic superlattices. Annealing of assembled e-Co nanocrystal arrays converts them to the hep cobalt crystal arrays. The inter-particle distance can be adjusted by selected thermal treatments or by chemical ligand exchange. This control over particle dimensions, crystallinity and assembly offers a model system for the study of ultra-high density recording media. re 1999 Materials Research Society.