Formation and morphology of Zn 2Ti 3O 8 powders using hydrothermal process without dispersant agent or mineralizer

Abstract

Synthesis of Zn 2Ti 3O 8 powders for attenuating UVA using TiCl 4, Zn(NO 3) 2·6H 2O and NH 4OH as precursor materials by hydrothermal process has been investigated. The X-ray diffractometry (XRD) results show the phases of ZnO, anatase TiO 2 and Zn 2Ti 3O 8 coexisted when the zinc titanate powders were calcined at 600 °C for 1 h. When calcined at 900 °C for 1 h, the XRD results reveal the existence of ZnO, Zn 2TiO 4, rutile TiO 2 and ZnTiO 3. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations show extensive large agglomeration in the samples. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED) examination results indicate that ZnTiO 3 crystallites formed with a size of about 5 nm on the matrix of plate-like ZnO when calcined at 700 °C for 1 h. The calcination samples have acceptable absorbance at a wavelength of 400 nm, indicating that the zinc titanate precursor powders calcined at 700 °C for 1 h can be used as an UVA-attenuating agent. © 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.