Germanium and Ge-based nanomaterials possess ideal physical transport properties for a range of applications in electronics and energy materials, but the challenging syntheses of Ge-based nanomaterials has impeded the investigation and characterization of their physical properties. Building upon recent synthetic developments in Ge nanomaterial synthesis, we report the synthesis of NiGe nanocrystals via hot injection of a metal(0) precursor into a solution of Ge(II) halide and high-boiling point solvent. We have used this approach to synthesize NiGe nanocrystals by injecting a Ni(0) precursor, producing the metastable Ni19Ge12 phase nanocrystals. Furthermore, we develop insights into the mechanism of this synthesis by studying effects of the molar ratio of Ni:Ge reactants, Ni(0) injection temperature, and Ge pre-crystallization on nickel germanide phase formation. We further show that the addition of the surface-coordinating trioctylphosphine as a cosolvent produces Ni1Ge1 nanocrystal products. Finally, we present evidence that the injection of a metal(0) precursor can be generalized to synthesize both FeGe and PdGe nanocrystals.

Colloidal synthesis of metal germanide nanocrystals

255th National Meeting (2018)

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