Preparation of lithium titanate by sol-gel method

Medium sized spherical particles of Li2TiO3 (with diameters below 100 pm) c an be prepared from peroxy lithium titanate solution (stabilized with citri c acid) by a modified INCT variant of the sol-gel process. The process cons ists of the following main steps: (I) formation of aqueous phase emulsion i n 2-ethylhexanol-1 containing the surfactants 1v/o SPAN-80 and 1v/o Ethomen S-15 (EH); (II) gelation of emulsion drops by extraction of water with par tially dehydrated EH; (III) filtration and washing with carbon tetrachlorid e or acetone; (IV) non-destructive thermal treatment. The tritium release f rom sol-gel process preparation of Li2TiO3 micro-spheres was found very clo se to that observed for other traditional material however, the new process is more efficient than other processes because of the morphology of the si ntered specimens.