Nanocrystals are fundamental to modern science and technology. Mastery over the shape of a nanocrystal enables control of its properties and enhancement of its usefulness for a given application. Our aim is to present a comprehensive review of current research activities that center on the shape-controlled synthesis of metal nanocrystals. We begin with a brief introduction to nucleation and growth within the context of metal nanocrystal synthesis, followed by a discussion of the possible shapes that a metal nanocrystal might take under different conditions. We then focus on a variety of experimental parameters that have been explored to manipulate the nucleation and growth of metal nanocrystals in solution-phase syntheses in an effort to generate specific shapes. We then elaborate on these approaches by selecting examples in which there is already reasonable understanding for the observed shape control or at least the protocols have proven to be reproducible and controllable. Finally, we highlight a number of applications that have been enabled and/or enhanced by the shape-controlled synthesis of metal nanocrystals. We conclude this article with personal perspectives on the directions toward which future research in this field might take.

Shape‐Controlled Synthesis of Metal Nanocrystals: Simple Chemistry Meets Complex Physics?

Strong Closed-Shell Interactions in Inorganic Chemistry.

Advances in copper complexes as anticancer agents.

Polymeric materials with antimicrobial activity

The challenge of cyclic and acyclic schiff bases and related derivatives

Abstract An analysis of the structural parameters of PtM, Pt2M, PtM2 and PtMM′ (M = non-transition metals) derivatives shows that each complex contains two crystallographically independent molecules within the same crystal. The respective molecules differ by the degrees of distortion and exemplify the distortion isomerism. These are discussed in terms of the coordination with the platinum and the M atoms and the correlations are drawn among the metal atoms, donor atoms, bond lengths and bond angles. A wide variety of non-transition metals (Sn, Ga, In, Tl, Zn, Cd, Hg, Sb) exist, among which the most prevalent is Sn.

Distortion isomers of PtM, Pt2M, PtM2 and PtMM′ (M = non-transition metals) derivatives-structural aspects

The coordination chemistry of germanium covers quite bulk fields, as shown by a survey covering the crystal- lographic and structural data of over two hundred examples. About ten percent of those complexes exist as distortion iso- mers and are summarised. These are discussed in terms of the coordination around the germanium(I), germanium(II) and germanium(IV) atoms, and correlations are drawn between donor atoms, bond distances and interbond angles. Distortion isomers differing only by degree of distortion in Ge - L and L - Ge - L angles by far prevail. There is an example, which contains within one crystal distortion and coordination isomers, which is rarity.

Milan Melnik

Papers

Distortion isomers of PtM, Pt2M, PtM2 and PtMM′ (M = non-transition metals) derivatives-structural aspects

Isomers in the Chemistry of Germanium Coordination Compounds

Preparation, structure, and some properties of the isomers of bis(pyridine)- and bis(4-methylpyridine)dichlorocopper(ii) complexes

Heterometallic Lead Coordination and Organometallic Compounds: Classification and Analysis of Crystallographic and Structural Data

Darstellung und einige eigenschaften von kupfer(i)-kupfer(ii)-selenocyanaten