Synthesis of the nickel selenophosphinates [Ni(Se(2)PR(2))(2)] (R = (i)Pr, (t)Bu and Ph) and their use as single source precursors for the deposition of nickel phosphide or nickel selenide nanoparticles.

Nickel phosphide (Ni(2)P and Ni(12)P(5)) or nickel selenide (NiSe) nanoparticles were prepared from the single molecule precursor, dialkyldiselenophosphinato nickel(II), [Ni(Se(2)PR(2))(2)] (R = (i)Pr, (t)Bu and Ph) by thermolysis in trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) or hexadecylamine (HDA). The chemical composition of these nanoparticles depends on the precursors, capping agents, and reaction temperature.