Synthesis of MnP nanocrystals by treatment of metal carbonyl complexes with phosphines: a new, versatile route to nanoscale transition metal phosphides

The reaction of Mn2(CO)10 with P(SiMe3)3 in coordinating solvents at T >/= 220 degrees C yields low polydispersity, highly crystalline MnP nanoparticles for the first time. The effect of dimensional limiting has resulted in the stabilization of a ferromagnetic ground state at low temperatures, rather than the metamagnetic state observed in bulk (microcrystalline) MnP. The synthetic methodology reported here is demonstrated to be general for a number of different metals and phosphine sources.