Metal-arene driven reduction approach to synthesize binary antimonides: The case of XSb (X = Fe, Co and Ni)

Over the years, transition metal binary antimonides with NiAs type crystal structure have drawn significant interest due to their highly stable nature and wide variety of composition dependent electrical/magnetic properties, which makes them desirable material for applications in thermoelectrics, Li-batteries etc. Even though many synthesis routes have already been developed for their synthesis targeting specific applications, however, a general method for their synthesis is still missing through which different such compounds (eg. FeSb) could be prepared by same protocol. Aiming for a general method, we explored metal-arene driven reduction approach to successfully synthesize three different highly crystalline single phase binary antimonides (FeSb, CoSb and NiSb). In addition to structural studies done by XRD, SEM and TEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the successful synthesis of the targeted compounds. For comparative study of their structural and morphological properties, these antimonides were also attempted by two other methods also. It was interesting to note that FeSb could only be synthesized by metal-arene driven reduction approach. The present report suggests that other binary intermetallic compounds could also be synthesized using similar approach.