A new method for synthesizing Li_2.06Nb_0.18Ti _0.76O₃ powder at low temperatures

Li_2.06Nb_0.18Ti_0.76O₃ powder has been successfully prepared at low temperatures via a facile and manageable, activated pretreatment on the inert raw Nb₂O₅. It is demonstrated that with triethanolamine, citric acid, and hydrogen peroxide, this simple pretreatment process could activate Nb₂O₅ efficiently. Pure Li₂TiO₃ solid solution phase was thus obtained by calcining the mixture of the activated Nb₂O₅, LiOH·H₂O, and Ti(C₄H₉O)₄ at temperatures as low as 650°C, which is about 200°C lower than that of the traditional solid-state method. To the best of our knowledge, this temperature is the lowest one for preparing Li₂TiO₃ solid solution. Additionally, the phase transformation and the morphology of the final powder are also discussed.