Synthesis and characterization of bismuth titanate by an aqueous sol-gel method

high stable, reproducible and water-based bismuth titanate (BTO) sol system has been synthesized by an aqueous sol-gel method. First bismuth nitrate was dissolved in acetic acid, and then it was mixed with a solution of lactic acid dissolved tetra-n-butyl titanate, subsequently, water was added to adjust sol concentration. The obtained sols or gels were characterized by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometer (UV), differential thermal analysis and thermo-gravimetry (TG-DTA), in-situ Raman, and high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD). Results show that the BTO sol can keep stable for more than one year and completely convert into BTO at 533℃.