The intercalation of 1,10-phenanthroline into layered NiPS₃via iron dopant seeding

Using 2% percent of iron dopants as reaction active sites yields a series of single crystals of 1,10-phenanthroline intercalated NiPS₃, via a solution reaction with aniline chloride, not possible by a direct reaction. Experimental magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate that 1,10-phenanthroline intercalation suppresses the anti-ferromagnetism ordering at around 150 K in Fe_0.02Ni_0.98PS₃, and gives rise to a ferrimagnetic phase transition at a temperature around 75 K. An intercalation mechanism is proposed for the reaction, and this dopant seeding method provides a new approach for intercalation into layered materials.