Modelling nanocrystal growth via the precipitation method

•Provides a mathematical model for nanocrystal growth from a colloidal solution.•With just onetting parameter shows excellent agreement with the growth of Cadmium Selenide nanocrystals.•Proves that an analytical solution for the growth of a single crystal is a good approximation for the average radius in a large system.•Provides Provides a simple model for Ostwald ripening.•Provides a method for optimising nanocrystal growth in a multi-step in-jection process.