By adding the polar Lewis base (TOPO), the transition state and the final carbocation are stabilized, see Scheme 1, resulting in a faster initial rate with increasing amounts of TOPO. While it is generally acknowledged that ligands have an influence on nanocrystal growth rates, here the impact of the phosphine oxide on the precursor decomposition is demonstrated. Table : Quantification of the decomposition kinetics for the titania case, displayed in Figure .