Liquid‐Phase Synthesis of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

This chapter is devoted to the different aspects of solution-phase syntheses of oxide nanostructures. The liquid-phase synthesis of oxide nanoparticles is a topic that has been treated in hundreds of publications by applying various synthetic methods. After a short introduction to nucleation and crystallization in solution, where appropriate, considerable background is presented, the chapter provides the uninitiated reader with a sufficient understanding of the underlying principles and theories of the various synthetic methodologies. It focuses on general synthetic strategies, such as (co)precipitation, sol–gel approaches and hydro-/solvothermal methods, where fundamental concepts are discussed. Most of these approaches can be combined with other techniques, e.g. microwave processing, ultrasound treatment, or the application of structure-directing agents. The chapter provides information on aqueous systems, applying metal salts as the precursor, while organometallic or metal organic precursors are treated in the sol–gel section.