Toward green metallurgy: low-temperature solution synthesis of bulk-scale intermetallic compounds in edible plant and seed oils

Abstract

Binary intermetallic compounds have been synthesized in edible plant and seed oils through the reaction of molten metal dispersions of low-melting p-block metals with late transition metal powders. Specifically, apricot kernel, almond, safflower, and canola oils have been used to synthesize FeSn₂, Ni₃Sn₄, CoSn₃, CoGa₃, Cu₆Sn₅, and Bi₃Ni. This low-temperature strategy yields bulk-scale products that are highly crystalline, and the solvents used to synthesize them can be re-used several times.