Congratulations to Ludo for his JACS paper!

In this study, we reveal the importance of precursor chemistry in the synthesis of Ni-based nanocrystals, which are relevant for catalytic applications.

Using a multimodal characterization approach, we reveal that the electronic properties of the ligands critically determine the resulting NC composition: weak σ-donor ligands promote the formation of nickel pnictides NCs via Ni-E cluster intermediates (E = P, As, Sb), while strong σ-donor ligands favor the formation of metallic Ni NCs via a Ni(I) complex intermediate. We explain the ligand-induced reaction pathways via the reducibility of the Ni center. In addition to fundamental chemical insight, this approach enables the synthesis of a diverse library of colloidal Ni-based NCs, including multiply twinned, flower-like, and cubic Ni NCs, as well as Ni₂P, Ni₁₂P₅, Ni₅P₂, Ni₅As₂, and NiSb NCs. This systematic ligand-based approach provides a robust framework for tailoring and understanding the synthesis of transition metal NCs and beyond.

Learn more about this work here!