Airbase Technology Division 1 article published in JoVE Chemistry Preparation of Silica Nanoparticles Through Microwave-assisted Acid-catalysis Derek D. Lovingood1, Jeffrey R. Owens2, Michael Seeber3, Konstantin G. Kornev3, Igor Luzinov3 1Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 2Air Force Research Laboratory, Airbase Technology Division, 3School of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University Silica nanoparticles were prepared using acid-catalysis of a siloxane precursor and microwave-assisted synthetic techniques resulting in the controlled growth of nanomaterials ranging from 30-250 nm in diameter. The growth dynamics can be controlled by varying the initial silicic acid concentration, time of the reaction, and temperature of reaction.