In pursuit of advanced materials from single-source precursors based on metal carbonyls (CCDC 1862751 for {Fe(CO)2(tBuPH2)(μ-tBuPH)}2. For crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c8dt03406k)

In this perspective, the development of single-source precursors and their relative advantages over multiple source approaches for the synthesis of metal pnictide solid state materials is explored. Particular efforts in the selective production of iron phosphide materials for catalytic applications are discussed, especially directed towards the hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reactions of water splitting.