Synthesis of air stable FeCo/C alloy nanoparticles by decomposing a mixture of the corresponding metal-acetyl acetonates under their autogenic pressure.

A mixture of Fe(AcAc)(2) and Co(AcAC)(2) was thermolyzed in a closed cell under the autogenic pressure of the reactants. The nature of the products was temperature dependent. The reaction is a one-stage, simple, efficient, and solvent-free method to prepare FeCo alloy nanoparticles protected by a carbon shell. Particle sizes of 60-150 were obtained covered by a carbon layer of 3-4 nm. The air stability of these particles is also demonstrated.