Patent ID: 8288587

Claim:
A method for producing a self-assembled chelate compound, the method comprising: mixing a nitrogen source and a weak acid to form a first mixture; adding a first element source to the first mixture to produce the self-assembled chelate compound; and purifying the self-assembled chelate compound, wherein the weak acid is an acid selected from the group consisting of malic acid, formic acid, tartaric acid, stearic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, boric acid, oleic acid, oxalic acid, phenolic acid, phormic acid, salicylic acid, and carboxylic acid, the first element source is a compound that includes a first element selected from the group consisting of sodium, chlorine, potassium, and lithium, and addition of the first element source to the first mixture results in an exothermic reaction that is controlled at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure.