Effect of calcination temperature on the microstructure and morphology of Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 powders synthesized from polymerized precursors

Lanthanum-modified bismuth titanate, Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 (BLT), powders were prepared from polymerized precursors using citric acid as a chelating agent and ethylene glycol as an esterification agent. The effect of calcination temperature on the microstructure and morphology of powders were studied. It was shown that the pure and normally stoichiometric phase of BLT powders could be obtained at relative low temperature from 550 degrees to 700 degrees C even if the bismuth content is not excess in the starting precursors while the secondary phase could be detected at both lower and higher calcination temperatures. The shape of the BLT grains is also strongly influenced by the calcination temperature.