The art of using ionic liquids in the synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials

• Published in: CrystEngComm 2014-01, Vol.16 (13), p.255-2559
• Main Authors: Duan, Xiaochuan, Ma, Jianmin, Lian, Jiabiao, Zheng, Wenjun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ionic liquids; Mathematical models; Metal oxides; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Optimization; Semiconductors; Synthesis
• ISSN: 1466-8033; 1466-8033
• DOI: 10.1039/c3ce41203b

Wet chemistry using ionic liquids as the medium has proven to be highly efficient for the preparation of several types of metallic, metal oxides, and other kinds of semiconductor nanostructures, and so on. This article reviews state-of-the-art research activities in the field, focusing on the use of ionic liquids as a versatile regent for the synthesis of various nanoparticle systems. We begin with a survey of choices to explore the ability of ionic liquids to act as a reactant, solvent, and surfactant, as a function of other synthesis parameters, also denoted as ionic liquid precursors (or task-special ionic liquids), which offer many advantages over traditional solution-phase methods. We then examine the design and fabrication of functional inorganic materials by means of optimizing the effect models of ionic liquids. Many of the most recent advances in ionothermal or ionic liquid-assisted synthesis have been realized by appropriate choice of cations or anions of ionic liquids according to the need. This review also highlights crucial issues that should be addressed in future research activities. In this article, we highlight the rational design of ionic liquids and understanding of the ionic liquid's effect on the molecular level based on solution-phase methods, mainly focusing on two major aspects: the ionic liquid precursor and the effect model of ionic liquids.