Patent ID: 7193098

Claim:
A process for producing III-V or II-VI nanocrystals comprising: (a) reacting a compound of formula (I) with a compound of formula (II) ML n (I) E(SiR 3 ) n (II) wherein: n is 3, and M is a Group III metal, and E is a Group V element, or n is 2, and M is a Group II, and E is a Group VI element; L is a ligand; and R is selected from the group consisting of H, —(CH 2 ) m CH 3 , —(C(CH 3 ) 2 ) m CH 3 , —(C(CH 3 ) 2 ) m (CH 2 ) z CH 3 , —(CH 2 ) m (C(CH 3 ) 2 ) z CH 3 , and any combination thereof, wherein m and z are real numbers, in the absence of any surfactant, ligand, or coordinating solvent under conditions effective to produce homogeneous nucleation of seed III-V or II-VI nuclei and a compound of formula (III) LSiR 3 (III); and (b) permitting reaction to occur between the seed III-V or II-VI nuclei and the compound of formula (III) under conditions effective to produce III-V or II-VI nanocrystals.