Low-energy microwave synthesis and cold sintering of nanograined TiO2-Nb2O5

The feasibility of using nanoparticles for bulk advanced ceramics manufacture is currently controversial, because the energy-time investments and the challenge to produce a dense nanostructured material. In this work, fast microwave synthesis and cold sintering were applied at mild conditions to efficiently produce dense nanocrystalline TiO2-Nb2O5 compacts. Microwave was carried out at 170 degrees C for 5 min to synthesize the targeted nanoparticles. Cold sintering permitted the densification at 200 degrees C and 300 MPa for 30 min of TiO2-Nb2O5 compacts reaching over 90% relative densities and grain size under 100 nm. The combination of both techniques enables a feasible technological route to manufacture nanograined ceramics with low-energy consumption from synthesis to densification. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.