A method of producing metal nanoparticles includes: dissolving an organic metal compound in a non-polar solvent, and mixing a polar solvent with the non-polar solvent to prepare a mixed liquid such that the polar solvent accounts for 5 volume % to 67 volume % of all solvents contained in the mixed liquid; and decomposing the organic metal compound by irradiating the prepared mixed liquid with a microwave, to produce metal nanoparticles. The organic metal compound includes: a non-polar group that is transparent to the microwave and that makes the organic metal compound soluble in the non-polar solvent; and a polar group that is disposed on a site of the organic metal compound, where a metal atom is present, and that absorbs the microwave.

An apparatus for forming diamond, which contains a reaction chamber, means for providing tetrahedranoidal reactant molecules to the reaction chamber; and means for providing single carbon atoms in the reaction chamber to provide for reaction between the single carbon atoms and tetrahedranoidal reactant molecules.

A controllable, continuous-feed system and process for the reduction or depolymerization of organic materials using microwave energy in a reducing, substantially oxygen-reduced atmosphere. The microwave energy is generated by a plurality of magnetrons in a microwave tunnel. Gaseous products may be extracted from the microwave tunnel for recycling and/or analysis. A collector such as a liquid trap may be used to separately collect floating and sinking constituents of the solid products while preventing the escape of the reducing atmosphere from the system.

A microwave reduction furnace including a reaction furnace provided with a refractory chamber of silica or silicon carbide for storing a material therein, a supply section for supplying the material into the refractory chamber, the material being a mixture of a silica powder and a graphite powder or a mixture of a silica powder, a silicon carbide powder and a graphite powder, a discharge section for discharging molten silicon, obtained through reduction, out of the chamber, and a microwave oscillator for outputting microwave toward the refractory chamber in the reaction furnace with a degree of directionality by virtue of a helical antenna or a waveguide.

A method for producing silicon using microwave and a microwave reduction furnace for use therewith are disclosed, with which it is possible to quickly reduce silica to quickly produce silicon. A material of a mixture of a silica powder and a graphite powder of a mixture of a silica powder, a silicon carbide powder and a graphite powder is set in a refractory chamber. Then, the material set in the chamber is irradiated with microwave. The graphite powder absorbs a microwave energy to increase the temperature, after which silica and graphite react with each other to further increase the temperature while producing silicon carbide, and the heated silica and silicon carbide react with each other. SiO produced through this reaction and silicon carbide are allowed to react with each other, thereby producing high-purity silicon.