Synthesis of inorganic solids using microwaves

Use of microwaves in the synthesis of materials is gaining importance. Micr owave-assisted synthesis is generally much faster, cleaner, and more econom ical than the conventional methods. A variety of materials such as carbides , nitrides, complex oxides, silicides, zeolites, apatite, etc. have been sy nthesized using microwaves. Many of these are of industrial and technologic al importance. An understanding of the microwave interaction with materials has been based on concepts of dielectric heating and of the resonance abso rption due to rotational excitation. This review presents a summary of rece nt reports of microwave synthesis of inorganic materials. Various observati ons regarding microwave interaction with materials are also briefly discuss ed.