Low-temperature synthesis of nanocrystalline zinc titanate materials with high specific surface area

Nanocrystalline zinc titanate (ZnTiO3) was synthesized at low temperatures through the combination of a sol-gel processing and a polymer binder method. ZnTiO3 powders of similar to5 mn in size were obtained by heating pastes, which were composed of a Zn-Ti methanolic solution containing acetylacetone and an organic polymer binder, at 500degreesC in air. Thermal decomposition behavior of the pastes was analyzed by thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis. Crystallinity of ZnTiO3 was examined by transmission electron microscopy. The BET measurement revealed that the powders had a relatively high specific surface area of 106 m(2)/g.