Full Length ArticlePreparation of cerium titanate brannerite by solution combustion, and phase transformation during heat treatment

An aqueous solution route was employed to prepare cerium titanate oxide brannerite. Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron spectroscopy, were used to investigate the brannerite structure formation and bulk properties. Mixed metal oxides (TiO2, CeO2 and brannerite CeTi2O6) were formed upon calcination at 800 °C for 12 h. The amount of brannerite phase decreased to form the constituent oxides with increasing calcination temperature and only pure TiO2 and CeO2 were present after 1200 °C calcination. The brannerite CeTi2O6 phase reformed at 1300 °C, and its relative amount was increased with dwell time. After 48 h calcination at 1300 °C, brannerite with only minor metal oxide impurities (<1%) was observed. The sample melted at 1400 °C which led to the collapse of brannerite back to its constituent oxides. Further, the phase formation was influenced by pelletization of the powders, which may be explained by a molar volume increase during brannerite formation. Attempts to confirm this hypothesis using Pu brannerite were inconclusive.