Synthesis of Sodium Niobate Powders by Mechanochemical Processing

Abstract

Sodium mobate (NaNbO3) powder was successfully synthesized by high-energy milling of commercially available Na2CO3 and Nb2O5 powders. The powder mixture was subjected to a mechanochemical treatment of up to 300 min using a ZrO2 vial and ZrO2 or WC balls. The formation of NaNbO3 was monitored by X-ray diffraction. Use of WC balls reduced the time required for synthesis. It was possible to synthesize NaNbO3 within 120 min when using WC balls. The mechanochemically synthesized powder consisted of agglomerates of nano size particles of 10-20 nm, whereas the size of powders prepared by conventional calcination was 100-600 nm. [doi: 10.2320/matertrans.MEP2008185]