The formation of ferroelectric bismuth titanate (Bi4Ti3O12) from an aqueous metal-chelate gel

Bismuth titanate (Bi4Ti3O12) was synthesized by an aqueous solution-gel process starting from solutions of bismuth acetate and a peroxocitrato-Ti(IV) complex. To gain insight into the thermal decomposition pattern of the gel several thermal analysis techniques were employed: DTA, TGA-EGA (evolved gas analysis by on-line coupling to a FTIR or mass spectrometer) and HT-DRIFT. Transmission electron micrographs showed that the gel is chemically homogeneous down to ca. 5 nm and that this homogeneity is preserved throughout the heat treatment. High-temperature X-ray diffraction measurements were used to make an in situ study of the phase formation. It has been found that single phase Bi4Ti3O12 is formed at 625degreesC.