Microwave Preparation of Oxide Bronzes

Several vanadium, tungsten, and molybdenum oxide bronzes have been prepared using microwave irradiation. Metal oxides and alkali metal iodides were used as starting materials. Intermittent grinding and inert atmosphere were found to be necessary for the synthesis of most of the bronzes. The reaction temperatures are remarkably lower than those employed for conventional synthetic techniques and the microwave assisted reactions proceed at extremely fast rates. The microwave synthesized bronzes consist of particles having long, rectangular rod-like morphology.