Formation of Bi₂Ir nanoparticles in a microwave-assisted polyol process revealing the suboxide Bi₄Ir₂O

Intermetallic phases are usually obtained by crystallization from the melt. However, phases containing elements with widely different melting and boiling points, as well as nanoparticles, which provide a high specific surface area, are hardly accessible via such a high-temperature process. The polyol process is one option to circumvent these obstacles by using a solution-based approach at moderate temperatures. In this study, the formation of Bi₂Ir nanoparticles in a microwave-assisted polyol process was investigated. Solutions were analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and the reaction was tracked with synchrotron-based in situ powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The products were characterized by PXRD and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Starting from Bi(NO₃)₃ and Ir(OAc)₃, the new suboxide Bi₄Ir₂O forms as an intermediate phase at about 160 °C. Its structure was determined by a combination of PXRD and quantum-chemical calculations. Bi₄Ir₂O decomposes in vacuum at about 250 °C and is reduced to Bi₂Ir by hydrogen at 150 °C. At about 240 °C, the polyol process leads to the immediate reduction of the two metal-containing precursors and crystallization of Bi₂Ir nanoparticles.