Hot Injection Method for Nanoparticle Synthesis: Basic Concepts, Examples and Applications

Highly monodispersed nanoparticles produced by the hot injection method are discussed. The hot injection synthesized nanoparticles are remarkable materials with size-dependent properties leading to advanced developments in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The basic classical theory, nucleation and growth of the nanocrystals are discussed in the framework of hot injection method. Kinetics of the hot injection method has been explored with the help of Ostwald ripening process and crystal growth mechanism. A comparison of hot injection synthesis method with other methods has been explored. A detailed description of monodispersed nanocrystals has been given by taking various important examples such as Co, Ag, Au, CdSe, PbSe, PbS, SnS2, FeS2, CuInS2, Cu2ZnSnS4, Cu2NiSnS4 and ferrites, nanomaterials. Applications of the hot injection synthesized nanoparticles in different areas and their uses in device fabrication have also been specified. This chapter suggests the utility of the hot injection method in the formation of size and shape-dependent colloidal nanoparticles with desirable optical, electrical and magnetic properties.