The intercalation of C60-containing PEO into layered MnPS3

This paper reports the synthesis and magnetism of a new polymer–inorganic intercalation nanocomposite based on a C60-containing poly(ethylene oxide) (C60–PEO) into layered MnPS3, which is characterized by XRD, IR and thermal analyses. The lattice expansion (Δd) of the intercalation nanocomposite is about 9.3 Å indicating the successful intercalation. And the charge balance is maintained by K+ ions coordinating with PEO chain of C60–PEO polymer, which come from the pre-intercalation compound Mn1−xPS3[K2x(H2O)y]. Magnetic measurements indicate that the intercalation nanocomposite (C60–PEO/MnPS3) exhibits a magnetic phase transition from paramagnetism to ferrimagnetism at about 40 K. And the distinctive hysteresis of M–H relationship further confirms that it is a low temperature ferrimagnetic nanocomposite.