Preparation and characterization of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ platelets by a novel low-temperature molten salt system

Abstract

Bismuth titanate (Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂) platelets were prepared by molten salt method in a new salt system of CaC_l2-NaCl at 650–750 °C, using bismuth nitrate pentahydrate (Bi(NO₃)₃―H₂O) and titanium butoxide (Ti (OC₄H₉)₄) as raw materials. The synthesis temperature of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ platelets was decreased to 650 °C from 900–1100 °C. The phase compositions and crystalline morphology of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ platelets were investigated by XRD and SEM. The experimental results indicate that Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ platelets containing tetragonal and orthorhombic phase with the size of 1–3 μm can be synthesized at 650 °C for 2 h, and the orthorhombic phase becomes the dominant phase at 750 °C for 5 h. The size and proportion of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ platelets increase with the increment of the calcining temperature and holding time. The proportion of platelets increases to about ninety percent, and the platelets grow up to about 3–10 μm at 750 °C for 5 h from 1–2 μm at 650 °C for 2 h. This technical route provides a new low-temperature molten salt system for preparing platelets by molten salt methods.

Keywords

CaCl₂-NaCl / molten salt / Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ platelets

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