Patent ID: 8062703

Claim:
A method of producing nanoparticles, the method comprising: effecting conversion of a nanoparticle precursor composition to a material of the nanoparticles, said precursor composition comprising a first precursor species containing a first ion to be incorporated into the nanoparticles and a separate second precursor species containing a second ion to be incorporated into the nanoparticles, the first precursor species not containing the second ion and the second precursor species not containing the first ion, said conversion being effected in the presence of a molecular cluster compound under conditions permitting seeding and growth of the nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles comprise outermost layers comprising a capping agent selected from the group consisting of a mercaptofunctionalized amine, a mercaptocarboxylic acid, and a ligand comprising a polymerisable group.