Polymer-assisted synthesis of Co2P nanocrystals

Co2P nanocrystals were successfully synthesized by a polymer-assisted hydrothermal method. The reaction was carried out at 190 °C–220 °C using cobalt chloride hexahydrate (CoCl2·6H2O) as Co-source and yellow phosphorous as P-source. Polyacrylamide (PAM) was used as surfactant. By controlling the experiment parameters such as the reaction temperature and the amount of polyacrylamide (PAM), Co2P nanocrystals with the rod-like or flower-like morphology could be prepared successfully. The phase and the morphology of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopes (TEM), electron diffraction pattern (ED) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). Furthermore, based on the results of the TEM observation, the possible formation processes of the Co2P nanorods or nanoflowers were also discussed.