| abstract |
A method of producing nanoparticles comprising effecting conversion of a nanoparticle precursor composition to the material of the nanoparticles, said precursor composition comprising a first precursor species containing a first ion to be incorporated into the growing nanoparticles and a second precursor species containing a second ion to be incorporated into the growing nanoparticles, said conversion being effected in the presence of a molecular cluster compound under conditions permitting seeding and growth of the nanoparticles, wherein the method comprises dispersing the molecular cluster compound and an initial portion of the nanoparticle precursor composition which is less than the total amount of the nanoparticle precursor composition to be used to produce said nanoparticles in a suitable dispersing medium at a first temperature; increasing the temperature of the dispersing medium containing the cluster compound and precursor composition to a second temperature which is sufficient to initiate seeding and growth of the nanoparticles on the molecular clusters of said molecular cluster compound; and adding one or more further portions of the nanoparticle precursor composition to the dispersing medium containing the growing nanoparticles, wherein the temperature of the dispersing medium containing the growing nanoparticles is increased before, during and/or after the addition of the or each further portion of the nanoparticle precursor composition. |