Organo-thermal preparation of nanocrystalline cobalt phosphides

Nanocrystalline cobalt phosphides have been successfully prepared via a benzene-thermal method at 150 °C, which is similar to the well-known hydrothermal process, except that benzene was substituted for water. The yield of cobalt phosphides was about 90%. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the product was a mixture of CoP and Co2P. Transmission electron microscopy showed two kind of shapes of particles. Electron diffraction confirmed Co2P with sphere shape and CoP with spindle shape.