Synthesis of Nanocrystalline BP via Benzene-Thermal Co-reduction of PCl3 and BBr3

Nanocrystalline boron phosphide (BP) powders 10 to 40 nm in size have been synthesized via a sodium co-reduction of PCl3 and BBr3 in benzene at 300 °C. X-ray diffraction data show a cubic pattern with lattice constant a = 4.539 A.