Pnictide liquids

Synthesis forms a vital aspect of the science of nanomaterials. In this context, chemical methods have proved to be more effective and versatile than physical methods and have therefore, been employed widely to synthesize a variety of nanomaterials, including zero-dimensional nanocrystals, one-dimensional nanowircs and nanotubes as well as two-dimensional nanofilms and nanowalls. Chemical synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials has been pursued vigorously in the last few years and in this article we provide a perspective on the present status of the subject. The article includes a discussion of nanocrystals and nanowires of metals, oxides, chalcogenides and pnictides. In addition, inorganic nanotubes and nanowalls have been reviewed. Some aspects of core-shell particles, oriented attachment and the use of liquid-liquid interfaces are also presented. 

Nitrogen is unique among the pnictide elements because it exists solely as N2 molecules, in the gaseous, liquid and solid states. In all these forms, the element is colourless, odourless, non-inflammable and non-toxic. Nitrogen, N=N, forms the most inert diatomic molecule known. 

The pnictide vapours all have similar tetrahedral structures and the vapours from mixed liquid phases of phosphorus and arsenic have been shown spectroscopically to contain stable interpnictide molecules P3AS, P2AS2 and PAsj, all based on tetrahedral units. Mass spectra of the vapours from various As/Sb/Bi mixtures at 300-750°C and 10 atm also indicate that many stable interpnictide species exist, for example, BiSbj, Bi2Sb2, Bi3Sb, Sb3As, SbAs3, and so on. 

Carmalt CJ, Morrison DE, Parkin IP (2000) Liquid-mediated metathetieal synthesis of binary and ternary transition-metal pnictides. Polyhedron 19 829-833... 

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