SOLVOTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF NANO/MICRO-SIZED SODIUM NIOBATE POWDERS WITH TUNABLE MORPHOLOGIES

摘要

Recently, the piezoelectric, dielectric, ferroelectric and photocatalytic properties of sodium niobate have been intensively studied, and phase compositions, dimensions and morphologies have significant influence on their properties. Herein, controllable synthesis of sodium niobates has been achieved via reforming synthetic process, changing solvent composition and adjusting raw material types/ratios. Cubic structural sodium niobate nanopowders have been obtained using EG as reactive medium, and their morphology varies from nanoparticles to nanowires when a temperature fluctuation is introduced. While rhombohedral structural octahedral and plated sodium niobates in microscale will be produced, once sodium acetate and water are used as raw materials and solvents, respectively. The formation mechanisms of these interesting shapes have been proposed. Our results demonstrate that sodium niobate nanowires show excellent photocatalystic activity in water splitting and the plate-like one may have potential applications in textured ceramic fabrications. This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC No. 51172108), Funding of Jiangsu Innovation Program for Graduate Education (KYLX_0260) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD) and the NUAA Fundamental Research Funds (No. NP2013301).