A novel method for synthesizing nano-crystalline MgTiO3 geikielite

We report here for the first time a novel method of preparing nano-crystalline metatitanate, MgTiO₃ geikielite, with crystalline size varying from 20–40 nm. The preparation has been carried out by coprecipitation method involving titanium hydroxide and magnesium nitrate solution. The samples were characterized by using transmission electron microscopic, powder XRD and FT-IR spectroscopic studies. The sample annealed at 900 K for 2 h show ten X-ray diffraction peaks corresponding to the pure geikielite phase. FT-IR spectra of the nano-crystalline geikielite exhibit strong broad vibrational bands near 1000, 650 and 470 cm⁻¹ arising from normal vibrations of the TiO₃ group.