Transition metal trifluoroacetates (M = Fe, Co, Mn) as precursors for uniform colloidal metal difluoride and phosphide nanoparticles

We report a simple one-pot synthesis of uniform transition metal difluoride MF(2) (M = Fe, Mn, Co) nanorods based on transition metal trifluoroacetates (TMTFAs) as single-source precursors. The synthesis of metal fluorides is based on the thermolysis of TMTFAs at 250–320 °C in trioctylphosphine/trioctylphosphine oxide solvent mixtures. The FeF(2) nanorods were converted into FeF(3) nanorods by reaction with gaseous fluorine. The TMTFA precursors are also found to be suitable for the synthesis of colloidal transition metal phosphides. Specifically, we report that the thermolysis of a cobalt trifluoroacetate complex in trioctylphosphine as both the solvent and the phosphorus source can yield 20 nm long cobalt phosphide nanorods or, 3 nm large cobalt phosphide nanoparticles. We also assess electrochemical lithiation/de-lithiation of the obtained FeF(2) and FeF(3) nanomaterials.