From "parasitic" association reactions toward the stoichiometry controlled gas phase synthesis of nanoparticles: a theoretically driven challenge for experimentalists.
In the present record a model for the gas-phase reactions during the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes of group 13-15 materials is presented, based on the results of extensive quantum-chemical modeling. Thermodynamic criteria have been introduced to evaluate the importance of a range of association reactions. For the organometallic and hydride derivatives, association processes are found to be favorable both thermodynamically and kinetically. Formation of high mass association products takes place under CVD conditions, including laser-assisted CVD. Structural and thermodynamic properties of the most important ring and cluster intermediates have been predicted. The stoichiometry-controlled synthesis of the 13-15 ternary alloys and nanoparticles using cluster compounds as single-source precursors is predicted to be viable. The association pathway described may be generalized to the CVD reactions of many binary materials (12-16, 13-16, 13-15, 14-15, 14-16).