The present invention provides the use of a lead (IV) containing compound to prepare a lead chalcogenide nanocrystal and a method for producing broadband lead chalcogenide nanocrystals in a low cost, size-controllable and scalable method, the method comprising contacting a lead (IV) containing compound with an organic acid and a chalcogen-containing reagent.

The present invention provides the use of a lead (IV) containing compound to prepare a lead chalcogenide nanocrystal and a method for producing broadband lead chalcogenide nanocrystals in a low cost, size-controllable and scalable method, the method comprising contacting a lead (IV) containing compound with an organic acid and a chalcogen-containing reagent.

A porous particulate nanocomposite material includes, as determined by X-ray diffraction, an orthorhombic CaB.sub.2O.sub.4 crystalline phase; an orthorhombic Co.sub.3(BO.sub.3).sub.2 crystalline phase; an orthorhombic PbO.sub.2 crystalline phase; and, a cubic Co.sub.3O.sub.4 crystalline phase. The porous particulate nanocomposite material is in the form of particles having a matrix phase with a smooth surface and in which sharp-edged plates are embedded and protrude.

A porous particulate nanocomposite material includes, as determined by X-ray diffraction, an orthorhombic CaB.sub.2O.sub.4 crystalline phase; an orthorhombic Co.sub.3(BO.sub.3).sub.2 crystalline phase; an orthorhombic PbO.sub.2 crystalline phase; and, a cubic Co.sub.3O.sub.4 crystalline phase. The porous particulate nanocomposite material is in the form of particles having a matrix phase with a smooth surface and in which sharp-edged plates are embedded and protrude.

A meta-stable ferroelectric structure including one of the following oxides: an isovalent combination of the formula M.sub.xM.sub.1-xO.sub.2-, wherein M, M={Zr, Hf, Pb, W, Mo, Nb, Te, Ti}, 0x1, 00.5 excluding {Hf.sub.xZr.sub.1-xO.sub.2 all x in Pca2.sub.1 phase}; an aliovalent combination of the formula MI.sub.xMII.sub.1-xO.sub.2-, wherein MI, MII={Bi, Y, Ta, In, Mo, Nb, Sc, Tl, Pd, Sb, W, Cr, Ge, Rh, Ti, Ag, Sn, Au, Ir, Pd, Ni, Ru, Hg}, 0x1, 00.5, excluding certain aliovalent combinations; or an isovalent-aliovalent combination of the formula M.sub.xMI.sub.yMII.sub.1-x-yO.sub.2-, wherein M, MI, and MII are as set forth above, 0x1, 0y1, 00.5; wherein the ferroelectric structure is in a Pca2.sub.1 or Pmn2.sub.1 space group or a subgroup thereof.

A meta-stable ferroelectric structure including one of the following oxides: an isovalent combination of the formula M.sub.xM.sub.1-xO.sub.2-, wherein M, M={Zr, Hf, Pb, W, Mo, Nb, Te, Ti}, 0x1, 00.5 excluding {Hf.sub.xZr.sub.1-xO.sub.2 all x in Pca2.sub.1 phase}; an aliovalent combination of the formula MI.sub.xMII.sub.1-xO.sub.2-, wherein MI, MII={Bi, Y, Ta, In, Mo, Nb, Sc, Tl, Pd, Sb, W, Cr, Ge, Rh, Ti, Ag, Sn, Au, Ir, Pd, Ni, Ru, Hg}, 0x1, 00.5, excluding certain aliovalent combinations; or an isovalent-aliovalent combination of the formula M.sub.xMI.sub.yMII.sub.1-x-yO.sub.2-, wherein M, MI, and MII are as set forth above, 0x1, 0y1, 00.5; wherein the ferroelectric structure is in a Pca2.sub.1 or Pmn2.sub.1 space group or a subgroup thereof.

A composition is provided comprising one or more of alpha lead oxide, beta lead oxide, metallic lead. Pb.sub.2O.sub.3 and Pb.sub.3O.sub.4, the composition comprising particles comprising sub-particles, the sub-particles having a mean greatest dimension of from 10 to 300 nm. Methods of making such a composition are also described.