Preparation of Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Se using microwave-assisted polyol synthesis

Microwave-assisted synthesis of colloidal inorganic nanocrystals

Colloidal inorganic nanocrystals stand out as an important class of advanced nanomaterials owing to the flexibility with which their physical-chemical properties can be controlled through size, shape, and compositional engineering in the synthesis stage and the versatility with which they can be implemented into technological applications in fields as diverse as optoelectronics, energy conversion/production, catalysis, and biomedicine. The use of microwave irradiation as a non-classical energy source has become increasingly popular in the preparation of nanocrystals (which generally involves complex and time-consuming processing of molecular precursors in the presence of solvents, ligands and/or surfactants at elevated temperatures). Similar to its now widespread use in organic chemistry, the efficiency of "microwave flash heating" in dramatically reducing overall processing times is one of the main advantages associated with this technique. This Review illustrates microwave-assisted methods that have been developed to synthesize colloidal inorganic nanocrystals and critically evaluates the specific roles that microwave irradiation may play in the formation of these nanomaterials.

Microwave chemistry for inorganic nanomaterials synthesis

This Feature Article gives an overview of microwave-assisted liquid phase routes to inorganic nanomaterials. Whereas microwave chemistry is a well-established technique in organic synthesis, its use in inorganic nanomaterials' synthesis is still at the beginning and far away from having reached its full potential. However, the rapidly growing number of publications in this field suggests that microwave chemistry will play an outstanding role in the broad field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. This article is not meant to give an exhaustive overview of all nanomaterials synthesized by the microwave technique, but to discuss the new opportunities that arise as a result of the unique features of microwave chemistry. Principles, advantages and limitations of microwave chemistry are introduced, its application in the synthesis of different classes of functional nanomaterials is discussed, and finally expected benefits for nanomaterials' synthesis are elaborated.

Monetite Formed in Mixed Solvents of Water and Ethylene Glycol and Its Transformation to Hydroxyapatite

Agglomerated nanorods of hydroxyapatite have been synthesized using monetite as a precursor in a NaOH solution. Monetite consisting of nanosheets has been successfully synthesized by a one-step microwave-assisted method using CaCl(2).2.5H(2)O, NaH(2)PO(4), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in water/ethylene glycol (EG) mixed solvents. The effects of the molar ratio of water to EG and the reaction time on the products were investigated. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR).

Microwave-Assisted Polyol Synthesis of CuInTe2 and CuInSe2 Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of the CuInTe(2) (CIT) and CuInSe(2) (CIS) alloys have been prepared using the microwave-assisted polyol method. In this simple and quick reaction the polyol is both the solvent and the reducing agent. XRD studies show that nanoparticles of CIT and CIS are formed in the body-centered tetragonal structure and their average diameters are approximately 94 and approximately 83 nm, respectively. Electron microscopy studies show that these formed particles are poorly aggregated with a mean diameter of 100 and 85 nm, respectively. The products have been characterized by different analytical techniques, and the electronic properties have been measured using photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS).

New synthetic routes for quantum dots

Various methods for the synthesis of quantum dots of compound semiconductors are discussed. Emphasis is placed on methods involving the decomposition of chalcogenide-containing precursors in tri-n-octylphosphine oxide. The use of simple coordination complexes can avoid the use of pyrophoric precursors. Approaches based on melts or the use of imino-bisdichalcogeno-diphosphinates are also discussed. These routes may be suitable for the production of large quantities of quantum dots.