Preparation of Metal Oxide Powder by Spark Discharge Process in Water -Application for Nb, Ta

Abstract

A new process of preparing metal oxide powder by spark discharge between two metal electrodes in deionized water has been studied. In this paper, the phase and shape of the prepared powders by using niobium and tantalum electrodes are reported.
In the case of niobium electrode, niobium and niobium oxide were formed. By applying tantalum electrode instead of niobium one, tantalum and tantalum oxide (δ phase) were formed. Spherical particles appeared in all the cases.