Utilization of the microwave electric or magnetic field in the synthesis of monometallic and bimetallic nanoparticles

The wet synthesis of mono-disperse Ag, Ag–Ni, and Pd–Ag nanoparticles has been performed employing glycol solutions containing [Ag(NH3)2]+ and a second metal cation Mn+ (M = Ag, Na, Al, Ni or Pd) under microwave irradiation in a predominately electric (E-) or a predominately magnetic (H-) field. No specific effects of the microwave E-field and H-field on the rate of product formation have been observed. But the synthesis of Ag–Ni alloy particles in the E-field and the H-field resulted in products with different particle size distribution, thus possibly indicating specific field effects.