Intercalation of amino acids into layered MnPS3: Synthesis, characterization and magnetic properties

Three bioorganic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposites based on amino acids into layered MnPS3 have been synthesized and characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and elemental analysis. The expanded MnPS3 structure as well as the characteristic IR absorption supports the successful and full intercalation of amino acids as the guests into interlayered space of MnPS3 host. The lattice spacing expansion from XRD patterns indicates that the inserted guest is arranged in the monolayer with carbon chain parallel to the layer of MnPS3. The magnetic measurements indicate that all three nanocomposites show paramagnetism above 50 K and obey Curie–Weiss law; however, at Tc of 40 K a ferrimagnetic transition is observed. The hysteresis of magnetization (M) versus magnetic field (H) at 1.85 K further confirms that these intercalation compounds are low-temperature ferrimagnets.