Synthesis, crystal structure, and characterization of cyclohexylammonium tetraisothiocyanatocobaltate(II): A single-source precursor for cobalt sulfide and oxide nanostructures

A A Bagabas; M Alsawalha; M Sohail; S Alhoshan; R Arasheed

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01139

Synthesis, crystal structure, and characterization of cyclohexylammonium tetraisothiocyanatocobaltate(II): A single-source precursor for cobalt sulfide and oxide nanostructures

Heliyon. 2019 Jan 24;5(1):e01139. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01139. eCollection 2019 Jan.

Authors

A A Bagabas¹, M Alsawalha², M Sohail^{3

4}, S Alhoshan¹, R Arasheed¹

Affiliations

¹ National Petrochemical Technology Center (NPTC), Materials Science Research Institute (MSRI), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), PO Box 6086, Riyadh, 11442, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Chemical & Process Engineering Technology, Industrial Chemistry Major, Jubail Industrial College, Jubail Industrial City, PO Box 10099, 31961, Saudi Arabia.
³ Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology (CENT), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, H-12, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan.

Abstract

We successfully synthesized 3D supramolecular structure of cyclohexylammonium tetraisothiocyanatocobaltate(II) complex, (C₆H₁₁NH₃)₂[Co(NCS)₄], in almost a quantitative yield by using metathesis and ligand addition reactions. The new complex was characterized by various techniques such as FTIR, UV-Visible, PXRD, SXRD, and CV electrochemical analysis to investigate mainly its structure. Based on the results of these techniques, the formation of the desired complex was confirmed. The TGA for this complex indicated the utilization of this complex as a single-source precursor for the synthesis of cobalt sulfide (CoS) under helium atmosphere and tricobalt tetraoxide (Co₃O₄) under air. Investigation of pyrolysis products by PXRD proved the formation of CoS and Co₃O₄. Furthermore, morphology studies by SEM and TEM displayed the formation of CoS and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles with various shapes.

Keywords: Inorganic chemistry; Materials chemistry; Organic chemistry.