Nanocomposites containing nanoclusters of selected first-row transition metal phosphides

Addition of the metal phosphine complexes, Fe(CO)(4)L, Ca-2(CO)(6)L'(2), NiL'4, or trans-NiL'Cl-2(2), where L = PPh(2)(CH2)(2)Si(OMe)(3) and L' = PPh(2)(CH2)(2)Si(OEt)(3), to conventional silica sol-gel formulations gives apparent covalent incorporation of these complexes into the resulting silica xerogel matrix. Subsequent thermal treatment under a reducing atmosphere affords nanocomposite materials containing crystalline nanoclusters of Fe2P, Co2P, or Ni2P, respectively, highly dispersed throughout the xerogel matrix. These results indicate that metal phosphine complexes can serve as single-source molecular precursors for nanoparticulate metal phosphide formation. The synthesis and characterization of these nanocomposites is described.