Ag, [Ag.sub.2]S, and [Ag.sub.2]Se nanocrystals: synthesis, assembly, and construction of mesoporous structures

A general strategy is described for the synthesis of mesoporous materials by using artificial atoms as uniform building blocks to construct ordered mesostructures. This new approach for the synthesis of Ag, [Ag.sub.2]S and [Ag.sub.2]Se nanoparticles is shown to be efficient, economical and easy to scale up in industrial production.