IN-SITU XRD TO OPTIMIZE POWDER SYNTHESIS OF AURIVILLIUS PHASES, M.S. Haluska, S.A. Speakman, S.T. Misture, pp. 110-116

In situ x-ray diffraction was used to optimize the synthesis of Aurivillius structure ceramic powders. Powders were prepared via conventional solid-state synthesis and the Pechini polymer precursor method. The phases Bi4Ti3O12, and Bi2Sr2Nb2TiO12 were studied. The Bi4Ti3O12 phase formed easily, regardless of processing route, between 400-500C and phase purity was achieved by 700C when using the Pechini method and by 900C with the solid-state method. The Bi2Sr2Nb2TiO12 phase formation was strongly dependent on processing route. Achieving phase purity via solid-state synthesis required over 100 hours of heat treatment time at elevated temperatures. In contrast, phase purity was achieved after about 2 hours at 900C when using the Pechini method.