1 research outputs found
Digestive Ripening: A Fine Chemical Machining Process on the Nanoscale
A comprehensive
overview of the process of digestive ripening that
is known to convert polydisperse nanocrystals to monodisperse ones
is presented. Apart from highlighting the role of organic molecules
(ligands) in achieving size control, the roles of other parameters
such as the nanocrystal–ligand binding strength and the temperature
at which the reaction is carried out in accomplishing size control
are also delineated. The generality of the procedure is illustrated
by providing examples of how it is used to prepare monodisperse nanocrystals
of different metals, alloy systems, and ultrasmall nanocrystals and
also to narrow the size distribution in complex binary and ternary
nanocrystal systems. Finally, the current status as far as the theoretical
understanding of how size control is being achieved by digestive ripening
is laid out, emphasizing at the same time the necessity to undertake
more systematic studies to completely realize the full potential of
this practically very useful procedure