Metal phosphide catalysts and methods for making the same and uses thereof

1. A method comprising:

heating a first mixture comprising:

Ni(PPh 3 ) 2 (CO) 2 ;

a phosphine;

oleylamine; and

a solvent, wherein:

the heating is to a first temperature to form a first heated mixture containing a nickel phosphide nanoparticle that is not hollow;

adding to the first heated mixture a metal phenylphosphine-containing precursor comprising at least one of Rh(PPh 3 )(CO)Cl, Mo(PPh 3 ) 2 (CO) 4 , Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 , Ru(PPh 3 ) 3 Cl 2 , Ru(PPh 3 ) 2 (CO) 2 Cl 2 , or Co(PPh 3 )(CO) 2 (NO) resulting in a second mixture, and

heating the second mixture to a second temperature to form a second heated mixture containing a bimetallic phosphide nanoparticle comprising at least one of (Ni x Rh y ) 2 P z , (Ni x Mo y ) 2 P z , (Ni x Ru y ) 2 P z , (Ni x Co y ) 2 P z , or (Ni x Pd y ) 2 P z , wherein:

z is equal to 1.0,

both x and y are greater than zero

x+y is equal to 1.0, and

the bimetallic phosphide nanoparticle is not hollow.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is between 225° C. and 320° C.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first temperature is maintained for a first time period between 15 minutes and 4 hours.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is 1-octadecene.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second temperature is between 250° C. and 350° C.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second temperature is maintained for a second time period that is between 1 hour and 4 hours.