Growth Mechanism\nof Seed-Mediated, Hexagonal Prism\nCopper Phosphide Nanoparticles

Copper phosphide (Cu<sub>3</sub>P) nanoparticles with\na well-defined\nshape and size were synthesized using existing copper nanoparticles\nas seeds and trioctylphosphine (TOP) as the phosphorus source. The\nnovel utilization of the seed-mediated method enables shape control\nand higher monodispersity, which are otherwise more difficult to achieve\nusing traditional one-pot methods. X-ray diffraction and electron\nmicroscopy were used to characterize the intermediate and final Cu<sub>3</sub>P nanoparticles to understand the growth. The phosphorization\nwas a stepwise process, initiating at one nucleation point on the\nseed nanoparticle and growing in an epitaxial manner. The process\nwas also found to be influenced by parameters, such as the volume\nof TOP and the amount of oleylamine added to the synthesis.