Chemical preparation of Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O-3 powders

A chemical preparation method was applied to the synthesis of lead indium. niobate (Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O-3, (PIN)) powders from nitrate solutions. As a nio bium. source, an oxalate-free niobium. precursor solution was prepared from niobium hydrogen oxalate. Clear PIN precursor solutions with Pb2+, In3+ an d peroxo-Nb ions were hydrolyzed with aqueous ammonia solutions. Coprecipit ates with a high degree of compositional homogeneity were obtained through the control of the hydrolysis conditions. The as prepared powders were amor phous and consisted of very small particle size (similar to 30 nm). The pow ders began to crystallize into a cubic pyrochlore phase at 500 degreesC, fo rmed a cubic perovskite phase at 700 degreesC, and yielded a single-phase p erovskite at 900 degreesC. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.