PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ZINTL COMPOUNDS, INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS INCLUDING INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS

摘要

Disclosed is a process for the production of Zintl compounds by thermal decomposition of heterometallic phosphinidene complexes. The heterometallic phosphinidene complex typically comprises at least two metals, at least one of which is selected from a Group 1 metal, M<1>, and another being a metal M<2>, selected from Group 13, 14 or 15 of the Periodic Table. The heterometallic phosphinidene complex further comprises one or more phosphinidene ligands, [PR], wherein R is typically a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, and a Lewis base stabilising ligand. Thermal decomposition of the heterometallic phosphinidene complexes in accordance with the invention forms a Zintl compound comprising metals M<1> and M<2> coordinated to Lewis base stabilising ligands, Lg. The invention further provides a process for removal of the stabilising ligand from the Zintl compounds to form an intermetallic compound. Intermetallic compounds having photoactive characteristics may be formed by this process, and are useful in the production of photoactive layers in electronic devices.