A quantitative ESR study of Cd₂P₂S₆ intercalated with cobaltocene

Single crystals of the layered transition-metal phosphorus chalcogenide Cd₂P₂S₆ have been intercalated with cobaltocene directly from a toluene solution. Quantitative ESR measurements at 7.0 K indicate that 17 ± 3% of the intercalated cobaltocene is present as neutral cobaltocene with the rest present as the cobaltocenium +1 cation. FTIR measurements indicate that the bandgap of the intercalated Cd₂P₂S₆ is significantly smaller than that of pure Cd₂P₂S₆. The importance of using single crystals of the host lattice versus a powder is addressed.