In this paper. we report the use of rapid microwave (MW) heating to prepare silver nanorods. The procedure we describe is one in which a silver salt is reduced to silver metal by the action of sodium citrate in the presence of gold seeds. We have characterized the silver products by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffractometry, and electron diffraction. The key requirement for producing the silver nanorods in a high aspect ratio is an adequate MW heating time. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.