TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The Au nanocrystals are reacted with a silane in the presence of a coordinating ligand. The method of making silicon nanorods further comprises: etching the Au nanocrystals after formation of the nanorods; and forming a first mixture of a silane and a dispersion of Au nanocrystals in a first liquid medium, and adding the first mixture to a second liquid medium which is heated above 375 degrees C. The liquid medium is heated above 340 degrees C, 375 degrees C, 380 degrees C, 420 degrees C, or 430 degrees C. The liquid medium is heated above 375 degrees C, and the liquid medium comprises a long chain hydrocarbon. The liquid medium is heated above 375 degrees C, and the liquid medium comprises a tertiary amine. The liquid medium is heated above 375 degrees C, and the liquid medium comprises a tertiary phosphine. The liquid medium is heated to a temperature of 360-430 degrees C. The first mixture is added to the second liquid medium by injecting the first mixture into the second liquid medium with a syringe. The method of making silicon nanorods comprises forming a first mixture by mixing trisilane (Si3H8) with Au nanocrystals disposed in a first liquid medium, heating a second mixture comprising a primary amine and at least one trioctylamine, squalane and octacosane to a temperature of above 340 degrees C; and adding the first mixture to the second mixture. The second mixture is heated to a temperature of above 375 degrees C. The silicon nanorods formed by the reaction are present in the liquid medium as a colloid. The Au nanocrystals are reacted with the silane in the presence of a coordinating ligand. The liquid medium is rapidly cooled through the addition of a second liquid to it. The second liquid is at room temperature. The liquid medium is heated in a reaction vessel, and the liquid medium is rapidly cooled by submerging the reaction vessel in a second liquid. The liquid medium is heated in a reaction vessel, and the liquid medium is rapidly cooled by bringing the reaction vessel into contact with a heat sink. The rapidly cooling the liquid medium involves adding a second, cooler liquid to the liquid medium, and the volumetric ratio of the second liquid to the liquid medium is 1:5-5:1, preferably 2:5-4:5. The rapidly cooling the liquid medium involves cooling the reaction medium from the reaction temperature to below the eutectic temperature of the metal nanocrystals in less than 30 seconds, preferably less than 5 seconds. The rapidly cooling the liquid medium involves cooling the reaction medium at least 20 degrees C, at least 30 degrees C, at least 40 degrees C, or at least 50 degrees C over a time span of 5 seconds. The rapidly cooling the liquid medium involves cooling the reaction medium at a rate of at least 5 degrees C/second, at least 8 degrees C/second, at least 11 degrees C/second, or at least 14 degrees C/second. The rapidly cooling the liquid medium involves: injecting a gas into the liquid medium; spraying the liquid medium; injecting the liquid medium through an orifice; injecting the liquid medium through an orifice and into an inert atmosphere; atomizing the liquid medium; passing the liquid medium over a heat transfer surface; passing the liquid medium over at least one heat transfer fin; and disposing a heat transfer coil in the liquid medium. Preferred Components: The coordinating ligand is an amine. The amine is a primary amine. The coordinating ligand is an alkylamine or dodecylamine. The nanorods have a length of 15-75 nm. The nanorods have an average diameter of 5-10 nm. The silane is trisilane (Si3H8). The liquid medium comprises: trioctylamine; squalane; octacosane; n-octacosane; a primary amine; and dodecylamine. The liquid medium comprises an amine having a structure of formula (NH2-R1). The liquid medium comprises a chemical compound of formula (R1a-A(R3)-R2). The tertiary amine has a structure of formula ((R1aa)3-N). The tertiary phospine has a structure of ((R1aa)3-P). The first liquid medium comprises a material comprising dodecylamine, dodecanethiol, tridodecylamine, benzene and dodecene. The concentration of Au nanocrystals in the first liquid medium is 25-125 mg/ml, preferably 25-35 mg/ml. The nanorods have a length of 1-100 (preferably 15-75) nm. The nanorods have an average diameter of 1.2-10 (preferably 5-10) nm. The primary amine is dodecylamine. The integrated circuit is an optical circuit. The precursor is a silane, or a germane. The seed material is Au nanocrystals. The nanostructures have an average diameter of 1.2-10 nm and a length of 1-100 nm or greater than 100 nm. The seed material is Au nanocrystals, where the precursor is a silane, and the seed material and precursor are reacted in the presence of a coordinating ligand. The coordinating ligand is dodecylamine. The amount of silicon (Si) relative to Au in the liquid medium increases with the desired length of the nanostructures. The amount of Si relative to Au in the liquid medium is proportional to the desired length of the nanostructures. The amount of Si relative to Au in the liquid medium is a function of the desired length of the nanostructures. The coordinating ligand is dodecylamine. The amount of Si relative to Au in the liquid medium is: increases with the desired length of the nanorods; proportional to the desired length of the nanorods; and a function of the desired length of the nanorods. The nanostructures comprise a semiconductor material. The nanostructures comprise a material comprising silicon and germanium. The nanostructures have an aspect ratio, defined as the ratio of the length of the nanostructure to the width of the nanostructure, of at least 4. The nanorods have an average diameter of 1.2-10 nm and a length of 1-100 nm.R1 = hydrocarbon moiety having at least 6C, preferably dodecylamine;A = N or P;R1a, R2, R3 = hydrocarbon moiety having at least 8C; andR1aa = hydrocarbon moiety having at least 8C. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.