A series of complexes
of the type [Ln(Se2P(phenyl)2)3(CH3CN)
x
] (x = 1
or 2) have been synthesized and structurally
characterized for Ln = La–Lu (excluding Pm). The complexes
are straightforward to prepare and crystallize and are soluble in
solvents typically used in nanoparticle synthesis. Solution-phase
thermolysis of these complexes formed lanthanide diselenide or LnSe2–x
nanosheets, for Ln = La–Ho,
except Eu, which formed EuSe. By contrast, the smallest lanthanides
Ln = Er–Lu formed Ln2Se3 nanomaterials.
The lanthanide dichalcogenides are rare-earth analogues of the transition
metal dichalcogenides and exhibit similar properties, including small
band gaps, charge density waves, antiferromagnetism, and superconductivity.
The lanthanide diselenide nanomaterials exhibited highly anisotropic
growth and were phase pure with the exception of CeSe2 (which
also formed a cerium oxide and cerium ultraphosphate). The lateral
nanosheet dimensions, based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM),
range from ∼50 to 500 nm, and the thickness was found to be
∼4 nm for the thinnest sheets by atomic force microscopy. The
nanosheets were further characterized by powder X-ray diffraction,
scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Alloy formation
was also demonstrated with the combined solution thermolysis of Sm
and Gd complexes to form Sm1–x
Gd
x
Se1.8. The alloy was found to
have homogeneous composition on the basis of powder X-ray diffraction
and TEM.