# US 8,465,716 B2 · Method of synthesizing phosphide materials

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- Number: US 8,465,716 B2
- Document ID: US8465716B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/602,966
- Filed: 2008-06-02
- Published: 2010-10-07
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-06-05
- Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique
- Applicants: Pascal Le Floch; Nicolas Mezailles; Xavier Le Goff; Benoit Dubertret
- Inventors: Pascal Le Floch; Nicolas Mezailles; Xavier Le Goff; Benoit Dubertret
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465716B2

## CPC

- C01B 25/08: Other phosphides
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

## Abstract

The subject of the invention is a method of synthesizing a compound MxPy where M is an element belonging to one of columns II to XV of the Periodic Table of the Elements or to the family of lanthanides or to the family of actinides, characterized in that it includes the reaction of x moles of compound comprising the element M in its oxidation state 0 with y/4n moles of compound (P4)n. The method of the invention may be carried out at a temperature much lower than those necessary in the methods of the prior art. It also allows low-temperature formation of nanoparticles and stoichiometric reaction control. The applications of this method are numerous: magnetic ferro-magnets for MnP and FeP; hydrodesulfurization catalysts for Ni2P; luminescent nanoparticles for biological applications; microelectronics and optoelectronics for InP; and electronics for GaP. The latter two phosphides are also used in the photovoltaic energy field.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of synthesizing a compound MxPy where M is an element belonging to one of columns II to XV of the Periodic Table of the Elements or to the family of lanthanides or to the family of actinides, and x and y are whole number variables representing a number of moles, and n is a whole number variable, comprising:
a. causing the chemical reaction of x moles of compound comprising the element M in its oxidation state 0 with y/4n moles of compound (P4)n; and
b. in which the chemical reaction is carried out in the presence of a weakly coordinating solvent to form MxPy nanoparticles.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the compound (P4)n is white phosphorus P4.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of synthesis as claimed in claim 2, in which the element M is Ni, x being equal to 2 and y being equal to 1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of synthesis as claimed in claim 3, in which the compound comprising Ni is Ni(C8H12)2 in which Ni is in its oxidation state 0.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of synthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of toluene.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of synthesis as claimed in claim 1, in which the reaction is furthermore carried out in the presence of oleylamine allowing Ni2P nanoparticles to be formed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of synthesis as claimed in claim 1, in which, when M is In, x is equal to 1 and y is equal to 1, and the In-containing compound is (C5H5)In.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of synthesis as claimed in claim 1, in which, when the element M is In, the In-containing compound is (C5(CH3)5)In.