Recent advances in the liquid-phase syntheses of inorganic nanoparticles

The literature contains a number of articles offering highly detailed reviews of specific synthesis techniques for preparing nanoparticles. However, most of these are narrow in scope thus making it difficult to develop a broadbased working knowledge of the various state-of-the-art synthetic techniques. This review focuses on advances developed within the past five years. Focus is on nanoparticle syntheses by coprecipitation, sol-gel processing, microemulsions, hydrothermal/solvothermal methods, templated syntheses, and biomimetic syntheses.