Nanocrystalline Co2P Ni2P, and Cu3P were successfully prepared through a si
mple solvothermal process based on the direct reactions of metal halides wi
th yellow phosphorus at rather mild temperatures (80-140 degrees C) with et
hylenediamine used as the solvent, XRD, XPS, and TEM were used to study the
phases, compositions, and morphologies of the final products, A possible m
echanism is proposed and the influential factors in the process are discuss
ed in detail. (C) 2000 Academic Press.