Patent attributes
Methods for making metal oxide nanoparticles, including mixed metal oxides and core-shell metal oxide nanoparticles, are disclosed. A solution comprising a metal carboxylate and a carboxylic acid is combined with a solvent comprising an alcohol heated to a temperature ≦250° C. for an effective period of time to form metal oxide nanoparticles. The metal may be a group IIIA metal, a group IVA metal, a transition metal, or a combination thereof. A metal oxide shell may be deposited onto metal oxide nanoparticles by dispersing the metal oxide nanoparticles in an alcohol, adding a metal carboxylate, and maintaining the reaction at a temperature ≦200° C. for an effective period of time to form core-shell nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may have a relative size dispersity of ≦20%, and may further comprise a plurality of carboxylic acid, carboxylate, and/or alcohol ligands coordinated to the nanoparticles' outer surfaces.
