Formation of Crystal Structure of Zirconium Titanate ZrTiO4 Powders Prepared by Sol-Gel Method

摘要

The crystal formation process of ZrTiO4 prepared by sol-gel method has been investigated using thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Raman scattering, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Thermal analysis results and XRD patterns show that ZrTiO4 crystallizes in orthorhombic phase at 700A degrees C with onset point at about 580A degrees C. However, ZrTiO4 crystal exhibits a disordered structure according to Raman, UV-Vis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy up to calcination temperature of 1200A degrees C. This indicates that, in the heat-treatment process, ZrTiO4 underwent three stages of oxide system self-organization: (1) short-range (< 600A degrees C), (2) disordered long-range (600A degrees C to 1200A degrees C), and (3) high-level of ordered orthorhombic structure (> 1200A degrees C).