Formation of alkali metal titanate nanocrystals using titanium alkoxide

Nanocrystalline powders of alkali metal titanates were prepared using titanium tetraisopropoxide and alkali metal salts by a sol–gel method. The influences of the kinds of alkali metal salts and heating temperature on the reaction of the titanium precursor compounds with the alkali metal salts, its phase transition, and crystal growth were investigated by thermal analyses, XRD measurement, and SEM observation in order to prepare lithium, sodium, and potassium titanates at relatively low temperatures. The amorphous titania gel or its product, very small titania crystals, as an intermediate phase reacted with the alkali metal salts at around 500–600 °C while it was still highly active and formed alkali metal titanate nanoparticles before forming the stable titania crystals. It is important that the active amorphous titania gels react with the dispersed alkali metal salts at a temperature as low as possible in order to form the alkali metal titanate nanocrystals.