Effect of salt species on characterization of Bi3NbTiO9 powders prepared by molten salt method

The carbonates, chloride and sulphate salts were chosen as fluxes to synthesize Bi3NbTiO9 (BNTO) powders at low temperature by the molten salt synthesis (MSS) method and the influence of salt species on the formation and powder characteristics of BNTO was investigated in this paper. The results showed that for the sulphate flux the formed particle size was the largest among all the used salts, but the fastest particle growth rate was found in the carbonates flux. Investigations on morphology characteristics of powders showed the plate-like powders with smaller particle size were synthesized in the chloride flux, but the powders obtained in the sulphate flux were shown to be irregular blocks in shape. Further studies indicated the salt content had a strong influence on crystallization of BNTO from the chloride flux.