Metal Phosphide Structures and Properties
Summary
Metal phosphides comprise a diverse class of inorganic solids in which metal atoms are bonded to phosphorus in variable stoichiometries and coordination geometries. Crystal structures range from three-dimensional frameworks and layered architectures to discrete cluster and chain motifs. Many adopt the so-called Zintl phases, where anionic phosphorus networks balance cationic metal sublattices, imparting semiconducting or metallic behaviour. Others form extended metal-rich lattices with interstitial phosphorus atoms stabilising high electrical conductivity and thermal robustness. Key properties include tunable band gaps, high carrier mobility and chemical stability under reducing conditions, making metal phosphides attractive for electrocatalysis in hydrogen evolution, lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery anodes, and high-temperature thermoelectrics. Structure–property relationships emerge from the coordination number of phosphorus, polyhedral connectivity of MXₙ units (M = metal, X = P), and the degree of metal–metal bonding. Recent advances have elucidated low-dimensional phosphide nanosheets, phase-pure nanoporous architectures and defect-engineered surfaces that optimise active sites for energy conversion and storage.
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Metal Phosphide Structures and Properties publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in metal phosphide structures and properties across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Zintl phase: A compound featuring anionic frameworks of p-block elements balanced by cationic metals, often semiconducting.
Coordination polyhedron: The geometric arrangement of ligands (here phosphorus) around a central metal atom.
Electrocatalysis: A process in which a catalyst facilitates electron‐transfer reactions at an electrode surface.
Band structure: The range of allowed and forbidden energy levels for electrons in a crystalline solid.
Vacancy defect: A missing atom in a crystal lattice that can influence electronic and catalytic properties.
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