Ferromagnetic FeSe(2) from a mixed sulphur-selenium complex of iron [Fe{(SePPh(2)NPPh(2)S)(2)N}(3)] through pyrolysis

Iron (III) thioselenoimidodiphosphinate complex, Fe{(SePPh(2)NPPh(2)S)(2)N}(3)], was synthesized from the ligand [Ph(2)P(S)HNP(Se)Ph(2)], and the complex employed as the combined source of the targeted elements (Fe and Se) to generate orthorhombic FeSe(2). This was achieved by thermolysis using a quartz glass tube, under reduced pressure at 500 °C during 1 h 30 min. The crystalline product was revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the morphology consisted of polygonal crystallites according to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements on the material confirmed its ferromagnetism as observed from the magnetization curve, indicated by the field-cooled and zero field-cooled conditions under a magnetic field of 100 Oe. This ferromagnetic material, FeSe(2) finds useful application in producing electrical semiconductors.