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

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.