Preparation and electrical properties of NaNbO3 ceramics synthesized by topochemical microcrystal conversion

NaNbO3 (NN) ceramics were successfully synthesized from bismuth layer-structured Bi2.5Na3.5Nb5O18 (BNN) particles by a topochemical microcrystal conversion method. Plate-like BNN particles were first synthesized by molten salt synthesis (MSS) technique. After topochemical reaction with complementary reactant sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) in sodium chloride (NaCl) flux, the layer structure of BNN particles were transformed to NN perovskite structure. The crystal structure and microstructure of the synthesized particles were examined through XRD and SEM analysis, respectively. Dielectric, complex impedance and conduction behaviors of the sintered NN ceramics were investigated in the frequency range of 100 Hz–1 MHz at different temperatures (50–550 °C).