Potassium-stabilized metastable carbides and chalcogenides via surface chemical potential modulation.

ABSTRACT: Metastable carbides and chalcogenides are attractive candidates for wide and promising applications. However, their inherent instability leads to synthetic difficulty and poor durability. Thus, the development of facile strategies for the controllable synthesis and stabilization of metastable carbides is still a great challenge. Here, taking metastable ɛ-Fe₂C as a case study, potassium ions (K⁺) are theoretically predicted and experimentally reported to control the synthesis of metastable ɛ-Fe₂C from an Fe₂N precursor by increasing the surface carbon chemical potential (μ_C). The controllable synthesis and improved stability are attributed to the better-matched denitriding and carburizing rates and the impeded spillover of carbon atoms

SUBMITTER: Chen F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12022162 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature