“…These considerations led to the successful use of HgBr 2 as a transport agent for Mo 3 P, Mo 4 P 3 [87] and Fe 2 P. [88] The chemical transport of the phosphorus part of these phosphides occurs in accordance with Equations (14) ± (16) via the much more stable phosphorus tribromide. [87,88] Mo 3 P s 9/2 HgBr 2,g > 3 MoBr 2,g PBr 3,g 9/2 Hg g (14) Mo 4 P 3,s 17/2 HgBr 2,g > 4 MoBr 2,g 3 PBr 3,g 17/2 Hg g (15) Fe 2 P s 7/2 HgBr 2,g > 2 FeBr 2,g PBr 3,g 7/2 Hg g (16) The reversal of these considerations means that, of course, the phosphorus coexistence pressure over a phosphide and its phosphorus-rich neighboring phase must be higher than about 10 À5 atm if the former is to be transported with iodine.…”