Nucleation and growth under irradiation
The hydrated electrons arising from the radiolysis of water can easily reduce all metal ions up to the zerovalent atoms (M0). Also, the multivalent metal ions could be reduced by multi-step reductions including intermediate valencies. The atoms, which are formed via radiolytic method, are distributed homogeneously throughout the solution. This is as a result of the reducing agents generated by radiation which can deeply penetrate into the sample and randomly reduce the metal ions in the solution. These newly formed atoms act as individual centre of nucleation and further coalescence.