Preparation of sodium tantalate powder via a combustion method

Abstract

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 ( 6008C). 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.