Patent ID: 8871182

Claim:
A method for manufacturing an assembly of nanocrystals, (“pure nanocrystals”), said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction environment comprising a reaction vessel and a vapor phase ballast vessel connected thereto via the gas phase; (b) providing a first solution (“solution A”), said solution comprising one or more metal precursors, solvent, optionally one or more reaction aids; (c) providing a second solution (“solution B”), said solution comprising a reducing agent, solvent, optionally reaction aids; (d) providing a third solution (“solution C”), said solution comprising reducing agent(s), solvent, and optionally reaction aids; (e) filling the vapor phase ballast vessel with solution C and the reaction vessel with solution A; and (f) adjusting the pressure of the reaction environment below atmospheric pressure; (g) adding solutions B to the reaction vessel; whereby all steps are performed under ultra-clean conditions; whereby the pressure is maintained below atmospheric pressure; whereby the method is performed in aqueous medium; and wherein each nanocrystal of the assembly of nanocrystals contains one metal of group 1-12 metals of the periodic table of elements, has a size of 2 to 200 nm, and has a defined, three-dimensional polyhedral structure, being free of, or essentially free of, lattice defects.