Effect of treatment conditions and titanium source on the hydrothermal synthesis of bismuth titanate particles

Hydrothermal synthesis of bismuth titanate particles was performed using various titanium sources. Uniform particles of titanium hydroxide, hydrous titania, and anatase were prepared respectively as starting materials. They were treated hydrothermally with bismuth nitrates in NaOH aqueous solution. The obtained crystal phases depended strongly upon the phase of the titanium source. Plate-like bismuth titanate particles were obtained at high-treatment temperatures when hydrous titania was used as the starting material. Spherical particles with a spherulite-like structure were obtained at low temperatures and for long treatments.