Nucleation and growth are two important and entwined processes in materials synthesis and engineering. While understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of the processes remain challenging, there is a growing demand for much improved control over and modification of nanostructures with precise geometrical and chemical features, well-tailored surface properties and functional attributes. To this end, we first examine the key concepts of the classical and non-classical theories and then emphasise mechanistic studies of nucleation and growth. Particularly, the state-of-the-art imaging, signal and/or data acquisition techniques are discussed, including in-situ liquid phase transmission electron microscopy, in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction, microfluidic platforms and machine learning. Both quantitative and qualitative experimental results with high temporal and spatial resolutions provide further insights into these nanofabrication processes for representative systems, such as Au nanoparticles and CaCO₃, and subsequently guide the rational design and production of materials with desirable properties. Based on current knowledge, strategies of leveraging external fields to manipulate the nucleation and growth processes are presented. Several case studies in important technological scenarios are discussed to inspire further attempts for precisely engineered solutions. Finally, further understanding of the processes are highlighted along with potential applications and future perspectives of controlling solution-synthesized nanostructures.

成核和生长是材料合成和工程中两个重要且相互交织的过程。虽然对这些过程的基本机制的理解仍然具有挑战性，但对具有精确几何和化学特征、精心定制的表面特性和功能属性的纳米结构的控制和改性的需求不断增长。为此，我们首先检查经典和非经典理论的关键概念，然后强调成核和生长的机理研究。特别地，讨论了最先进的成像、信号和/或数据采集技术，包括原位液相透射电子显微镜、原位同步加速器 X 射线衍射、微流体平台和机器学习。具有高时间和空间分辨率的定量和定性实验结果为代表性系统的这些纳米制造过程提供了进一步的见解，例如 Au 纳米粒子和 CaCO ₃，并随后指导具有理想特性的材料的合理设计和生产。基于目前的知识，提出了利用外部场来操纵成核和生长过程的策略。讨论了重要技术场景中的几个案例研究，以激发对精确设计的解决方案的进一步尝试。最后，强调了对这些过程的进一步理解以及控制溶液合成纳米结构的潜在应用和未来前景。