Ultra-fast, energy-efficient synthesis of intermetallics; microwave-induced metal plasma (MIMP) synthesis of Mg2Sn

Fan, Z., Cappelluti, M. D. and Gregory, D. H. (2019) Ultra-fast, energy-efficient synthesis of intermetallics; microwave-induced metal plasma (MIMP) synthesis of Mg2Sn. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 7(21), pp. 19686-19698. (doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b04811)

Abstract

Magnesium stannide, Mg2Sn, can be synthesized from the elements using microwaves over minute time scales in the solid state. The effects of Mg content, pressure and microwave irradiation time were investigated and single phase Mg2Sn was produced in 1 min under only 200 W of incident irradiation in vacuuo (P < 10–6 mbar). The fine Mg and Sn metal powders both couple efficiently with the microwave field under a vacuum, heating up rapidly and generating plasma. The metal plasma formation is shown to be essential for reaction completion and promotes the enhanced kinetics of the reaction via one or more possible reaction pathways to sintered Mg2Sn. This approach provides a simple, ultrafast, sustainable, and energy-efficient route to phase-pure Mg2Sn, a material that is extremely challenging to make at high purity by conventional methods. The MIMP formalism should be applicable to many other metalloid materials of this and other types.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fan, Zhen and Cappelluti, Mauro Davide and Gregory, Professor Duncan
• Authors: Fan, Z., Cappelluti, M. D., and Gregory, D. H.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
• Journal Name: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 2168-0485
• ISSN (Online): 2168-0485
• Published Online: 08 November 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society
• First Published: First published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering 7(21):19686-19698
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher