Mechanical synthesis and characterization of Bi4Ti3O12 nanopowders

Nanocrystalline bismuth titanate (BiT) powders with the particle size distribution in the range of 30–45 nm were synthesized from their oxides Bi2O3 and TiO2 using mechanical ball milling process. The ball milling synthesis was performed in air for 5 h. The synthesized BiT ceramic was calcined at 900 °C in air atmosphere for 2 h without a pre-calcination step. The X-ray diffraction pattern was used to analyze the formations of phase and crystal structure. The morphology and the microstructure of the nanosized bismuth titanate powders were studied using scanning electron microscope. The Raman spectrum measurement was used to investigate the structural changes observed in the formation of BiT nanopowders. The photoluminescence measurement showed that the material exhibited maximum emissions at 454 nm and 469 nm in the visible emission band around blue–green colour.