By microwave irradiation of ammonium paratungstate (APT, (NH4)(10)H2W12O42. 4H(2)O), needle crystals of W18O49 with a wide variety of size and morphology were formed. Their sizes and morphologies varied depending on various facets of individual APT pseudomorphous particles on which whiskers were grown, and among neighbouring decomposed APT pseudomorphous particles. Based on scanning electron and transmission electron-microscopic observations, it has been concluded that individual whiskers were monocrystalline and grew by a root growth mechanism from a nucleus formed in the amorphous layer, and that a rapid leader-like whisker growth in length was followed by a subsequent slower growth in thickness. Any evidence supporting a screw dislocation mechanism or tip growth by vapour-liquid-solid have not been detected.
