Bi_3.25La_0.75Ti₃O₁₂ powders by the complex polymerization method: synthesis, characterization and morphology

Lanthanum-modified bismuth titanate (Bi_3.25La_0.75Ti₃O₁₂, BLTO) powders were prepared by the complex polymerization method. The structure and morphology of BLTO powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The complexation of citric acid with the metallic cations was detected by Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR). The thermal analyses of obtained gels were investigated by differential thermal gravimetric (DTG). The pure and normally stoichiometric phase of BLTO powders could be obtained at relatively low temperature of 550–700 °C even if the bismuth content is not excess in the starting precursors, while the secondary phase could be detected at lower and higher calcination temperatures. The shape of the BLTO grains is similarly to platelet in Bi-layer structure and stoichiometry BLTO was detected by the analysis of energy dispersive spectrometry.