Different mechanisms govern the two-phase Brust-Schiffrin dialkylditelluride syntheses of Ag and Au nanoparticles

Here we report the first unambiguous identification of the chemical structures of the precursor species involving metal (Au and Ag) ions and Te-containing ligands in the Brust–Schiffrin syntheses of the respective metal nanoparticles, through which the different reaction pathways involved are delineated.