Liquid-mediated metathetical synthesis of binary and ternary transition-metal pnictides

Nickel and cobalt pnictides have been synthesised using a liquid-mediated metathetical reaction of transition-metal dihalides with the appropriate sodium pnictide Na(3)E (E=P, As, Sb) in refluxing toluene for 48 h. Binary and ternary compounds have been prepared. Products were analysed by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive analysis by X-rays, FT-IR, Raman and vibrating sample magnetometry. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved.