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Growth of ultrasmall nanoparticles based on thermodynamic size focusing

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Abstract

This study presents a new concept to synthesize quantum dots or nanoparticles with smaller size (<2 nm) based on the thermodynamic size focusing. Conventionally, control over crystal size is achieved by interrupting crystal growth and/or limiting the reaction rate at lower temperature. Alternatively, we synthesized ultrasmall nanoparticles via a simple thermal quenching-isothermal annealing process called the thermal size focusing. This approach, avoiding the difficulty of controlling the rapid nanoparticles' growth in the interruption method or long synthesis time in the low-temperature process, provides an efficient way for obtaining ultrasmall nanoparticles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK

    Hsueh-Shih Chen & Ramachandran Vasant Kumar

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  1. Hsueh-Shih Chen
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  2. Ramachandran Vasant Kumar
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Correspondence to Hsueh-Shih Chen.

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Chen, HS., Kumar, R.V. Growth of ultrasmall nanoparticles based on thermodynamic size focusing. J Nanopart Res 14, 1207 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1207-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1207-8

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