Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: We review our recent contributions to the use of solvothermal methods for the preparation of different oxide and chalcogenide nanoparticles. We have prepared sub 10-nm g-Fe²O³, ZnFe²O⁴, and CoFe²O⁴ particles by the decomposition of the corresponding cupferron complexes in the presence of n-octylamine or n-dodecylamine in solvothermal toluene. Similarly, dodecanethiol-capped chalcogenide nanoparticles of CdSe have been prepared by reacting cadmium stearates with H²Se under solvothermal conditions. The H²Se is generated in situ by the reduction of Se by tetralin. Using this latter technique, we have also been able to prepare PbSe and PbI² in toluene under solvothermal conditions, albeit in bulk (rather than nanocrystalline) form. In the preparation of PbI², HI is prepared by the in situ reduction of I² by tetralin.