Provided are nanoparticles passivated with a cationic metal-chalcogenide complex (MCC) and a method of preparing the same. A passivated nanoparticle includes: a core nanoparticle; and a cationic metal-chalcogenide compound (MCC) fixed on a surface of the core nanoparticle.

A nanocrystal preparation method comprises the following steps: dissolving, in a first selected solvent, a first precursor which is in a gaseous state under normal temperature and normal pressure, to form a first precursor solution; dissolving a second precursor in a second selected solvent to form a second precursor solution, wherein the second precursor is a precursor of a metal element of Group I, Group II, Group III or Group IV; and in an inert gas atmosphere, adding the first precursor solution into a reaction vessel which contains the second precursor solution, wherein the first precursor chemically reacts with the second precursor to generate a nanocrystal. The present invention further discloses a nanocrystal prepared by the above method and an apparatus for preparing and storing a gas-dissolved solution. With the preparation method according to the invention, the amount of the first precursor in a gaseous state can be accurately controlled, the reaction is more uniform and more controllable, and the obtained nanocrystal has uniform volume distribution and a higher luminescent quantum yield.

A nanocrystal preparation method comprises the following steps: dissolving, in a first selected solvent, a first precursor which is in a gaseous state under normal temperature and normal pressure, to form a first precursor solution; dissolving a second precursor in a second selected solvent to form a second precursor solution, wherein the second precursor is a precursor of a metal element of Group I, Group II, Group III or Group IV; and in an inert gas atmosphere, adding the first precursor solution into a reaction vessel which contains the second precursor solution, wherein the first precursor chemically reacts with the second precursor to generate a nanocrystal. The present invention further discloses a nanocrystal prepared by the above method and an apparatus for preparing and storing a gas-dissolved solution. With the preparation method according to the invention, the amount of the first precursor in a gaseous state can be accurately controlled, the reaction is more uniform and more controllable, and the obtained nanocrystal has uniform volume distribution and a higher luminescent quantum yield.

A method of manufacturing a sulfide-based ceramic element, such as a transparent infrared optical element, comprises the steps of: synthesizing a sulfide powder; and sintering the powder to form the ceramic element; wherein the step of synthesizing the sulfide powder is performed by combustion in an aqueous solution, the solution comprising water as its only solvent, or containing water as its main solvent and at most 10%, and preferably at most 1% of the overall solvent mass, of one or more combustible solvents. The sulfide powder may be chosen, in particular, among ZnS, BaLa.sub.2S.sub.4, CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4.

A process for preparing stacks of metal chalcogenide flakes includes: (a) reacting together a source of the metal atom of the target metal chalcogenide with a source of the chalcogenide atom of the target metal chalcogenide, in the presence of a spacer, so as to produce flakes of the metal chalcogenide; (b) depositing metal chalcogenide flakes obtained using step (a) onto a substrate to form a stack of assembled metal chalcogenide flakes, wherein the spacer contains an alkyl chain linked to a functional group able to bond to the metal chalcogenide surface, said alkyl chain having a length of less than 18 carbon atoms, preferably between 6 and 14 carbon atoms.

There is provided a method of forming a porous particle comprising an electrically conductive continuous shell encapsulating a core, said core comprising an elemental compound that reversibly reduces in the presence of a cation and oxidizes in the absence of said cation, said method comprising the steps of: a) encapsulating an elemental compound precursor with said electrically conductive shell; b) reacting said elemental compound precursor with an oxidation agent to oxidize said elemental compound precursor to form said elemental compound, thereby forming said electrically conductive shell encapsulating said core comprising said elemental compound.

There is provided a method of forming a porous particle comprising an electrically conductive continuous shell encapsulating a core, said core comprising an elemental compound that reversibly reduces in the presence of a cation and oxidizes in the absence of said cation, said method comprising the steps of: a) encapsulating an elemental compound precursor with said electrically conductive shell; b) reacting said elemental compound precursor with an oxidation agent to oxidize said elemental compound precursor to form said elemental compound, thereby forming said electrically conductive shell encapsulating said core comprising said elemental compound.

This invention relates to a method for exfoliating inorganic layered compounds to form two-dimensional (2D) inorganic compounds. The exfoliation is carried out in aqueous media in the present of polycyclic aromatic compounds. The invention also relates to aqueous suspensions of two-dimensional compounds which arise from the exfoliation method. The invention further relates to methods of forming thin films of two-dimensional compounds from suspensions and to devices comprising thin films of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic compounds.

This invention relates to a method for exfoliating inorganic layered compounds to form two-dimensional (2D) inorganic compounds. The exfoliation is carried out in aqueous media in the present of polycyclic aromatic compounds. The invention also relates to aqueous suspensions of two-dimensional compounds which arise from the exfoliation method. The invention further relates to methods of forming thin films of two-dimensional compounds from suspensions and to devices comprising thin films of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic compounds.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a phase-separated lead telluride-lead sulfide nanopowder using solution synthesis and a phase-separated lead telluride-lead sulfide nanopowder prepared by the method. The method includes: (a) mixing tellurium and a first solvent, followed by ultrasonic irradiation to prepare a tellurium precursor solution; (b) mixing an organosulfur compound and a second solvent, followed by ultrasonic irradiation to prepare a sulfur precursor solution; (c) mixing lead oxide, a third solvent, and a fourth solvent and heating the mixture to prepare a lead precursor solution; (d) adding the tellurium precursor solution to the lead precursor solution and allowing the mixture to react; (e) adding the sulfur precursor solution to the reaction mixture of step (d) and allowing the resulting mixture to react; and (f) cooling the reaction mixture of step (e) to room temperature to prepare a phase-separated lead telluride-lead sulfide nanopowder.