Synthesis of nanomaterials has received increasing attention
over the past decade. This is related to some unusual
and often unique chemical and physical properties associated
with this class of materials [1–3]. Various preparative methods
have been developed and successfully utilized for the
preparation of nanostructured compounds. Among them are
vapor–liquid–solid and solution–liquid–solid processes, surfactant
capping and hydro(solvo)thermal methods, template-directed
synthesis, self assembly of smaller nanocrystallites as well as utilization
of crystal intrinsic structural anisotropy [4–6]. In recent
years, the controlled synthesis of inorganic nanostructures with
tailored morphologies and patterns has attracted intensive interest
because the properties and performances of nanostructured
materials are largely dependent on the shape and structure of the
primary building blocks and the way how the building blocks are
assembled or integrated. The size and shape of nanocrystals are