Facile preparation of BIMEVOX powders via melting process: From synthesis to sintering optimization

The melting process is a facile and fast approach for the synthesis of doped bismuth vanadate (BIMEVOX) powders. However, the method has not yet been described in detail. In this study, the principal aspects of the melting process are reported. The versatility of the method is demonstrated by the synthesis of the three distinct BIMEVOX family members: CuO (BICUVOX), Fe2O3 (BIFEVOX), and TiO2 (BITIVOX). X-ray diffraction measurements indicate that the method produces single-phase powders containing exclusively γ-phase crystals without requiring calcination. The produced powders were sintered at temperatures between 750 and 800 °C for 4 h, resulting in relative densities exceeding 96% with grains averaging 2.9 μm in size. The most striking feature of the melting process is the dramatic reduction of total synthesis and sintering times when compared to the solid-state reaction synthesis, thereby effectively saving time in the production of BIMEVOX ceramics.