Synthesis of Sodium Niobate Powders by Mechanochemical Processing

Abstract

Sodium niobate (NaNbO₃) powder was successfully synthesized by high-energy milling of commercially available Na₂CO₃ and Nb₂O₅ powders. The powder mixture was subjected to a mechanochemical treatment of up to 300 min using a ZrO₂ vial and ZrO₂ or WC balls. The formation of NaNbO₃ was monitored by X-ray diffraction. Use of WC balls reduced the time required for synthesis. It was possible to synthesize NaNbO₃ within 120 min when using WC balls. The mechanochemically synthesized powder consisted of agglomerates of nano size particles of 10–20 nm, whereas the size of powders prepared by conventional calcination was 100–600 nm.