A review for synthesis of nanoflowers.

The data on nanoflower-like nanostructures are generalized for several groups of inorganic compounds (carbon, elemental metals, their alloys and compounds with the elements of V and VI Groups of the Periodic Table), as well as for a few coordination and organic compounds. Their synthetic techniques include oxidation of elemental metals, reduction of metal salts, thermal decomposition of relatively unstable compounds, or electrochemical route. Some current and possible applications of nanoflowers are noted.