Chemical synthesis and characterization of ZnTiO<inf>3</inf> powder prepared by the coprecipitation oxalate method

Abstract

Zinc titanate (ZnTiO3) powder was prepared by the coprecipitation oxalate method. Zinc nitrate and titanium (IV) isopropoxide were used as the starting materials with the mole ratio of Zn:Ti was 1:1. Oxalic acid and ammonium hydroxide were added into the mixed solution. Precipitated powder was obtained after the final pH of solution was 5. The fined powder was washed with deionized water, filtered, dried at 100 °C for 2h, and followed by the calcination at 500, 700 and 900 °C for 2h. The phase of ZnTiO 3 powder was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hexagonal and cubic phase of ZnTiO3 powder were obtained after calcination at 900 °C. The particle size of ZnTiO3 powder was in the range of 0.1-0.5 μm with irregular in shape and agglomerated. The chemical composition was identified by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). The elemental composition of zinc, titanium and oxygen shows the characteristic X-ray energy values. © 2008 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.