Microwave irradiation is widely used to intensify various chemical processes, including in the synthesis of nanomaterials. The purpose of this review is to present recent trends in the application of microwave heating for the preparation of monometallic, bimetallic, and more complicated metal nanoparticles. The advantages and drawbacks behind the use of microwave irradiation in the synthesis of unsupported and supported metal nanoparticles are summarized. Such metals as Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Cu, Ni, Co, etc. are considered. Illustrative examples have been presented of the positive effects of microwave treatments, including the preparation of particles of different shapes and particles of immiscible metals.

For the first time, the new microwave-assisted method for the synthesis of copper phyllosilicates on a commercial SiO₂ carrier was developed. The application of microwave synthesis allowed to decrease the synthesis time from 9 to 6 h compared to the traditional DPU method of preparing chrysocolla. The synthesized catalysts were studied by N₂ adsorption, TEM and XRD methods. Catalysts prepared by microwave method are highly effective in the selective hydrogenation of the С≡С bond in 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 2-phenylethinylaniline with a selectivity of 96.5% and 100% at full conversion for 2 and 0.5 h of the reaction, respectively.