Microwave Synthesis of Nanometallic Particles

The first report of a microwave-assisted reaction leading to the formation of nanometallic particles was by Jiang and coworkers [167]. They prepared Au nanopar- 

The noble metals were the favorite metals for demonstrating the usefulness of the microwave operation in conducting the polyol reaction. Among the noble metals platinum was synthesized most frequently. Polymer-stabilized platinum colloids with nearly uniform spherical shape were prepared by Yu and coworkers by microwave dielectric heating [172]. The average diameters of the as-prepared platinum colloids were 2-4 nm with a narrow size distribution in regard to the preparation conditions. 

Finally, using the polyol reaction and the same reactants as in [172] in a third 

Komarneni and coworkers [175] conducted a polyol reaction for the preparation of Pt and Ag nanopartides. The synthesis of the metal nanopartides [175] was conducted in a double-walled digestion vessel which has an inner liner and a cover made of Teflon PFA and an outer high-strength shell of Ultem polyetherimide. 

Spherical and uniform Pt nanopartides, 3.5-4.0 nm supported on carbon, were prepared by microwave irradiation [177]. The products exhibited very high electro-catalytic activity in the room-temperature oxidation of liquid methanol. The preparation method was similar to that of Komarneni [175], namely, a polyol reduction. 

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