A method of making crystalline inorganic particles having an average size of up to about 200 nm is disclosed. The crystalline inorganic particles include at least one crystalline inorganic chalcogenide and combinations thereof. Each crystalline inorganic particle includes at least one crystallite. The method includes the steps of: providing an organometallic precursor, wherein the organometallic precursor includes at least one of a metal alkoxide, a metal carboxylate, and combinations thereof; decomposing the organometallic precursor at a first temperature for a sufficient time to form an inorganic amorphous material; and crystallizing the inorganic amorphous material at a second temperature for a sufficient time to form a crystalline phase. Also disclosed are crystalline inorganic particles made by the method.
The reaction of sulfides with a stoichiometric amount of benzyltrimethylammonium tribromide and aqueous sodium hydroxide in dichloromethane at room temperature or in 1,2-dichloroethane under reflux gave the corresponding sulfoxides in good yields.