Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Iron Monoarsenide via a Reductive Recombination Pathway

Nanocrystalline FeAs was prepared with FeCl3and AsCl3as the reactants and Zn as reductant via a reductive recombination pathway in the temperature range of 150–180°C. The XRD pattern indicated the products were the single phase of iron monoarsenide. A TEM image showed the average size of the FeAs was about 20 nm. XPS gave the ratio of Fe to As 50.9:49.1. The influence of reactions and the possible reaction route of the formation of iron monoarsenide are discussed.