Preparation of sodium tantalate powder via a combustion method

Sodium tantalate (NaTaO₃) powder with high crystallinity has been successfully synthesised through a combustion reaction. The energy supplied in this way speeds up the chemical reaction of raw powder (which dramatically reduces the reaction time) and also decreases the reaction temperature (~600°C). Among several groups of proposed experiments, urea has been found to be the best organic compound (among the four auxiliary agents: urea, methenamine, citric acid, oxalic acid) in this synthetic process. The oxalate ion also plays an important role during the formation of NaTaO₃ powder. Powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope are used to characterise various properties of the obtained NaTaO₃ powder. It was observed that the pure NaTaO₃ powder is well crystallised with a uniform morphology.