Effect of Calcination Conditions and Excess Alkali Carbonate on the Phase Formation and Particle Morphology of Na0.5K0.5NbO3 Powders |
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Authors: | Pornsuda Bomlai Pattraporn Wichianrat Supasarute Muensit Steven J Milne |
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Affiliation: | Materials Science Program, Prince of Songkla University, Songkla 90112 Thailand; Department of Physics, Prince of Songkla University, Songkla 90112 Thailand; Institute for Materials Research, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K. |
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Abstract: | Sodium-potassium niobate Na0.5K0.5NbO3] powders were prepared following the conventional mixed oxide method. An orthorhombic XRD pattern, consistent with single-phase Na0.5K0.5NbO3, was obtained after calcination at 900°C for 6 h. Introducing 5 mol% excess Na2CO3 and K2CO3 into the starting mixture allowed milder calcination conditions to be used, for example 800°C for 2 h. Primary particles in 5 mol% excess samples were cuboid, with maximum sizes of ~2.5 μm. Equiaxed 0.3–0.4-μm particles were formed for non-excess powders, and also for powders prepared with 1 and 3 mol% excess alkali carbonates. The results suggest liquid formation during calcination of the excess 5-mol% starting powders. |
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