Synthesis and perspectives of complex crystalline nano-structures

Research on inorganic colloidal nanocrystals has moved from the synthesis of simple structures, such as spherical nanoparticles, to more elaborate particles with shapes such as rods, stars, discs, and branched nanocrystals, and recently to nanoparticles that are composed out of sections of different materials. Nanocrystal heterostructures represent a convenient approach to the development of nanoscale building blocks, as they merge sections with different functionality in the same particle, without the need of inorganic cross-linkers. The present article gives an overview of synthesis strategies to complex nanocrystals and will highlight their structural properties, as well as discuss some envisaged applications.