Preparation of nano-sized Mg0.6Al0.8Ti1.6O5 powders using the inorganic salts route

Stable magnesium aluminum titanate ceramics (Mg0.6Al0.8Ti1.6O5) compound has been successfully synthesized with a straightforward non-hydrolytic sol–gel process using an inorganic metal compound as cation source supplier at about 600 °C. The raw materials MgCl2·2H2O, AlCl3, TiCl4, and citric acid were dissolved in ethanol. Prepared gel was dried at 120 °C and calcined at various temperatures in an electric furnace. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) demonstrate that the direct crystallization of mono-phase magnesium aluminum titanate from fluffy precursor at a temperature below aluminum titanate decomposition temperature range is feasible. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis show the nano-metric size of particles. The particle size and specific surface area of the powders varied from 16.5 to 27.6 nm and from 98.2 to 58.7 m2 g−1 according to calcination temperatures (600 and 700 °C), respectively. The nano-particles had a strong tendency to agglomerate and were partially sintered at 1100 °C.