Synthesis of KSbOSiO4 by the sol-gel route

Abstract

Fine powders with high sinterability of KSbOSiO4, an isomorphous derivative of KTiOPO4, have been prepared by a sol-gel route starting from stoichiometric mixtures of KSb(OH)6 and Si(OC2H5)4 with two types of polymerization catalysts: HNO3 and aqueous ammonia. KSbOSiO4 is formed upon calcination of the gels at 1373 K, and the XRPD studies show that HNO3 improves the crystallinity. However, the crystallite size is smaller with aqueous ammonia, which should then improve the sinterability.