Surfactants as Promising Media for the Preparation of Crystalline Inorganic Materials

Given that surfactants can control the shape and size of micro-/nanoparticles, they should be able to direct the growth of bulk crystals. This Minireview summarizes recent developments in the application of surfactants for the preparation of new crystalline inorganic materials, including chalcogenides, metal-organic frameworks, and zeolite analogues. The roles of surfactants in different reaction systems are discussed.