New synthetic approaches towards nanomaterials are important for the development of materials that can respond to evolving applications, such a biological, medicinal, energy, and many others. We have developed new syntheses for nanoparticles composed of earth abundant nanoparticles such as zinc phosphide, iron sulfide, and epitaxial electrochemical reactions that yield metal semiconductors. Synthetic development ranges from room temperature nanoparticle epitaxial deposition on semiconductors, to high temperature hot injection techniques.