Abstract

Microwave heating is a valuable technique in inorganic synthesis, which allows direct transfer of electromagnetic energy into the reaction mixture. In recent years, the microwave-assisted hydrothermal (M-H) synthesis has been accepted as a promising methodology for synthesis of nanomaterials due to its rapid heating rate, short reaction time, and energy saving. Large number of scientific publications covers this subject, and recently, the literatures are growing rapidly. As an important class of inorganic nanomaterials, perovskite oxide nanomaterials (PONs) exhibit wide spectra of attractive physical properties (e.g. ferroelectricity, piezoelectricity, dielectricity, ferromagnetism, magnetoresistance, and multiferroics), which make them have promising applications in modern electronic nanodevices. In the chapter, we present an up-to-date overview of the recent advances on the M-H synthesis of PONs. First, we introduce the basic principles, advantages, and limitations of the M-H process, and then, the fundamentals of PONs are described. Next, an overview of the M-H synthesis of the PONs is provided. The emphasis is on the physical properties, microstructural characterizations, and functional applications of the PONs obtained by this methodology. Finally, the future perspectives of this methodology in the synthesis of PONs are proposed.