Toward green metallurgy: low-temperature solution synthesis of bulk-scale intermetallic compounds in edible plant and seed oils

Binary intermetallic compounds have been synthesized in edible plant and seed oils through the reaction of molten metal dispersions of low-melting p-block metals with late transition metal powders. Specifically, apricot kernel, almond, safflower, and canola oils have been used to synthesize FeSn(2), Ni(3)Sn(4), CoSn(3), CoGa(3), Cu(6)Sn(5), and Bi(3)Ni. This low-temperature strategy yields bulk-scale products that are highly crystalline, and the solvents used to synthesize them can be re-used several times.