Chemical synthesis of bismuth titanate microparticles

Microparticles of bismuth titanate (Bi4Ti3O12) powders were synthesized by a chemical coprecipitation route with the precursors containing bismuth nitrate and titanium isopropoxide. The precipitate was obtained at pH 9 after adding ammonium hydroxide into the mixed solution. The yellow precipitate powders were washed with deionized water, dried at 90 °C and calcined at the temperature ranging from 400 to 700 °C for 2 h. The phase formation was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). A single phase of Bi4Ti3O12 was obtained with the orthorhombic structure after calcining at 700 °C for 2 h. The microstructure and morphology were studied by the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopic (EDS) techniques. The powders were agglomerate, irregular in shape and the average grain sizes were increased from 0.20 to 0.70 μm with increasing calcining temperature. The elemental constituents of the powders were identified by the energy dispersive value.