Lead chromate (PbCrO 4 ) rods and dilead pentaoxochromate (Pb 2 CrO 5 ) with bundle-like and rod-like morphologies have been successfully synthesized by a simple microwave-assisted ionic liquid method. In the presence of NaOH, single-crystalline Pb 2 CrO 5 bundles and rods could be synthesized by microwave heating a solution containing lead acetate and potassium dichromate at 90 °C for 10 min. However, single-crystalline PbCrO 4 rods could be prepared by microwave heating at 50 °C for 10 min without using NaOH. The single-crystalline Pb 2 CrO 5 and PbCrO 4 samples prepared were unstable and tended to become polycrystalline under electron beam irradiation.