The preparation of a novel layered lead titanate and its conversion to the perovskite lead titanate PbTiO3

A novel layered lead titanate with the approximate composition PbTiO2(CO3)0.3 (NO3)0.35(OH) has been synthesized hydrothermally under acidic conditions. The structure has been solved and refined from X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data in the space group P -3 1 m, with cell dimensions a = 5.1787(5) إ and c = 8.5222(7) إ. The titanate layers possess a gibbsite-like structure: lead cations and oxyanions such as carbonate and nitrate are included between the layers. Upon heating the solid loses water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide and converts via a poorly crystalline intermediate phase to the perovskite PbTiO3. The conversion is complete by 550°C; continued heating results in an increase in crystallinity.