Ping Yan, Yi Xie, Wenzhong Wang, Fuyu Liu and Yitai Qian
Nanocrystalline InP was prepared at temperatures of 80-160°C through a novel route: 4InCl3+12KBH4+P4→en4InP. Mean crystallite dimensions of 11.3-20 nm were determined from X-ray powder diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the products were 15-20 nm spherical grains when prepared at 120
°C and 150×1500 nm rod-like grains at 160
°C. The reaction proceeds through a metallic indium intermediate and a solution-liquid-solid mechanism is proposed for the one-dimensional growth. The products were also investigated by UV/vis absorption, photoluminescence, Fourier-transform IR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.