Phase-Selective Growth of Assembled FeSe₂ Nanorods from Organometallic Polymers and Their Surface Magnetism

By an organometallic approach based on 1,2,3-triselena[3]ferrocenophane, assembled FeSe2 nanorods were phase-selectively prepared. Abstraction of the central selenium from 1,2,3-triselena[3]ferrocenophane by reaction with triphenylphosphite resulted in organometallic polymers through Se–Se bond formation. Successive heating of the polymers in the presence of oleylamine resulted in formation of the assembled FeSe2 nanorods, which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Interestingly, the obtained FeSe2 nanorods underwent air oxidation readily to form a magnetic coating on the surface. These observations are suggestive toward preparation of magnetically coated core/shell type semiconductor nanomaterials.