Issue 32, 2022

Rapid, energy-efficient and pseudomorphic microwave-induced-metal-plasma (MIMP) synthesis of Mg2Si and Mg2Ge

Abstract

Polycrystalline magnesium silicide, Mg2Si and magnesium germanide, Mg2Ge were synthesised from the elemental powders via the microwave-induced-metal-plasma (MIMP) approach at 200 W within 1 min in vacuo for the first time. The formation of reactive Mg plasma facilitated by the high-frequency electromagnetic field (2.45 GHz) is at the origin of the ultrafast reaction kinetics in these preparations. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) attest to the high purity of the products. Both SEM and Transmission Electron Microscopy (with Selected Area Electron Diffraction) (TEM/SAED) demonstrate the pseudomophic nature of the metal plasma reactions such that use of nanoporous Ge starting material leads to the production of nanoporous germanide, Mg2Ge. Covalent Mg–Si and Mg–Ge bonds with partial ionic character are suggested by XPS, while the refined crystal structures are consistent with Mg–Mg interactions within the cubane-like clusters in Mg2X antifluorite unit cells. The MIMP method unlocks not only the sustainable synthesis of Mg2X materials but also the wider production of intermetallics and Zintl phases of prescribed morphology.

Graphical abstract: Rapid, energy-efficient and pseudomorphic microwave-induced-metal-plasma (MIMP) synthesis of Mg2Si and Mg2Ge

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 may 2022
Accepted
22 iyl 2022
First published
25 iyl 2022
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

CrystEngComm, 2022,24, 5801-5809

Rapid, energy-efficient and pseudomorphic microwave-induced-metal-plasma (MIMP) synthesis of Mg2Si and Mg2Ge

Z. Fan, H. Ho, R. Szczęsny, W. Liu and D. H. Gregory, CrystEngComm, 2022, 24, 5801 DOI: 10.1039/D2CE00721E

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