Template-assisted synthesis of shape-controlled Rh₂P nanocrystals

When reacted with trioctylphosphine at ∼360°C, rhodium nanocrystals convert to rhodium phosphide (Rh₂P) nanocrystals. Careful control over synthetic variables, such as temperature, stabilizing ligands, and cosolvents, can result in Rh₂P nanocrystals with shapes that reflect the Rh nanocrystal templates. Accordingly, Rh nanocrystals with multipod, cube- and triangle-derived shapes convert to Rh₂P nanocrystals that maintain the shape of their Rh precursors. Both dense and hollow Rh₂P nanocrystals can be generated using a single unified chemical conversion strategy. These empirical guidelines for generating a morphologically diverse library of Rh₂P nanocrystals provide important insights into shape conservation using nanocrystal templates and will likely be portable to other multielement systems for which rigorous shape-controlled synthesis remains challenging.