High-yield synthesis of nanostructured boron phosphide by a pyrotechnic method

A process for increasing the yield of crystalline boron phosphide comprising of:

• a. Mixing a composition comprising boron phosphate and magnesium metal into a homogenous mixture, wherein the mass ratio of boron phosphate and magnesium is about 1:1
• b. loading the homogenous mixture into a column structure;
• c. packing the homogenous mixture at a pressure of 0 psi to 10,000 psi to form a pellet;
• d. igniting the pellet by applying a minimum energy input to initiate a self-sustaining high temperature synthesis reaction of the pellet, wherein the minimum energy input is about 0.025% to about 20% of the heat output of the homogenous mixture.