LiTaO
3 was prepared by hydrolyzing an ethanol solution of lithium ethoxide and tantalum ethoxide with H
2O in N
2 atmosphere. The samples with 25, 45, 46, ......, 54, 55 and 75 mole percent of Li
2O (Li
2O/Li
2O+Ta
2O
5 mol%) were coprecipitated.
The as-prepared samples with 45 to 55 mol% Li
2O were amorphous, but crystallized to LiTaO
3 byheating at 500°C for 2 h. Stability range of LiTaO
3 solid solution phase below 1100°C could be determined from change of the lattice constants of LiTaO
3 ss in 45 to 55 mol% samples heated at temperatures up to 1100°C. The ranges of LiTaO
3 ss phase were 49.9 to 51.2 mol% at 800°C, 49.1 to 51.6 mol% at 950°C and 48.0 to 52.0 mol% at 1100°C. The lattice constants of stoichiometric LiTaO
3 heated at 1100°C for 20 h were a
c=5.153+0.001 A, and c
o=13.78+0.01 A.
The as-prepared sample with 25 mol% Li
2O was amorphous, and crystallized to LiTaO
3 and fl-Ta
2O
5at 700°C. Above 800°C, LiTa
3O
8 was formed by the reaction of LiTaO
3 with β-Ta
2O
5. A disordered NaCl type of Li
3TaO
4 was formed from the as-prepared sample with 75 mol% Li
2O which changed to ordered tetragonal phase above 800°C.
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