LAUSR

Nickel phosphide nanoparticles are used as catalysts in a wide range of chemical transformations such as hydrogenation. However, the synthesis of colloidal dispersion of these nanoparticles usually requires high reaction temperature and oleylamine as a reducing agent, which compromises the surface reactivity of the nanocatalysts. This work reports a robust new method of the synthesis of nickel phosphide nanoparticles assisted by H2 and at a lower temperature of 200 °C. Well‐crystallized Ni12P5 and Ni2P nanoparticles of 5.5 ± 0.5 nm were successfully prepared using tri‐n‐octylphosphine (TOP) as the phosphorus source. They were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. A higher temperature, reaction time, and TOP/Ni ratio favored the formation of a Ni2P phase over Ni12P5.