Synthesis of zirconium titanate with an ordered M-fergusonite (beta) structure

Ulrike Troitzsch*, Andrew G. Christy, David J. Ellis

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We report a new zirconium titanate compound (Zr,Ti)O2 with 27.5-35 mol% titania (TiO2) formed from the oxides at 35-38 kbar, 1400-1500 °C. Crystal structure investigations at atmospheric conditions with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed a monoclinic structure related to that of M-fergusonite (beta). Unit-cell dimensions (from 27.5 to 35 mol% TiO2): a=7.267(20)-7.340(2) Å, b=10.435(3)-10.429(1) Å, c=5.023(11)-5.040(1) Å, β=136.45(12)-137.55(1)°, V=262.44(92)-260.40(12) Å3, Z=4. Rietveld refinement (RF=1.55) of a sample with 32.8 mol% TiO2 indicates that site A is 8-fold coordinated, mostly occupied by Zr, while site B has 6-fold average coordination, occupied by Ti and Zr. Site B is at least partly ordered, as indicated by superstructure reflections 0 0 1 and -2 0 1 detected with TEM, reducing the space group from C2/c to C2. Pronounced streaking of selected diffraction spots is linked to the boundaries of lamellar domains in twin orientation, with twin planes either (200) or (20-2). Adjacent lamellae differ slightly in composition, causing subtle asymmetry of the twin diffraction patterns.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2885-2895
    Number of pages11
    JournalJournal of Solid State Chemistry
    Volume180
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2007

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Synthesis of zirconium titanate with an ordered M-fergusonite (beta) structure'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this