Low-Temperature Synthesis of Nano-Crystalline ZnTiO3 Powders by Aqueous Sol-Gel Process

Abstract

The ecandrewsite-type ZnTiO3was successfully synthesized by the aqueous sol-gel method using TiO2dioxide and zinc nitrate as starting materials instead of expensive organic solvent and metal alkoxides. The as-prepared nanopowders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The results showed that the calcination process of gel consisted of a series of oxidation and combustion reactions, accompanied by significantly exothermal effects. Highly reactive nanosized ZnTiO3powders were successfully obtained at 850 °C with particle size ~50 nm. By comparison, the aqueous sol-gel process was the most effective and least expensive technique used for the preparation of ZnTiO3nanopowders.