Facile synthesis of lead-free piezoelectric sodium niobate (NaNbO 3) Powders via the solution combustion method

Nanocrystalline perovskite sodium niobate, NaNbO3 (NN), was prepared by means of the glycine-nitrate combustion process (GNP). This was achieved by using sodium nitrate and niobium pentoxide as starting materials. The X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) was used to investigate the phase formation and purity of synthesized powder. The morphology of the powder obtained was characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The amount of glycine in the starting solution was found to have significant influence on the combustion process and the final phase purity. The fuel-rich ratio (fuel-to-oxidant molar ratio of 1.0) was found to produce NaNbO 3 powder of an average crystalline size (defined by XRD) of 31.31 ± 4.37 nm. Calcination at 400°C for 4 h produced single phase NN with an average crystalline size of about 26.60 to 37.14 nm. Copyright © Taylor &Francis Group, LLC.