ABSTRACT Molecularly doped silica xerogels are prepared by the addition of nickel, palladium, or platinum phosphine complexes containing bifunctional ligands to conventional silica sol-gel formulations. Subsequent thermal treatment under solely reducing conditions leads to decomposition of the precursor complex and to the formation of highly dispersed, crystalline nanoclusters of a single metal phosphide phase. Such dopant complexes act as single-source precursors for silica xerogel nanocomposites containing nanocluslers of Ni2P, Pd5P2, or PtP2. An overview of the synthesis and characterization of these nanocomposites is described.
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