A rapid synthesis of sodium titanium phosphate, NaTi2(PO4)3 by using microwave energy

In this study, sodium titanium phosphate, NaTi2(PO4)3 was synthesized in a pure form by using microwave energy. The NaTi2(PO4)3 was obtained by mixing the initial reactants of TiO2, (NH4)2HPO4 and NaH2PO4·2H2O with the molar ratio of 2:2:1 in a domestic type of microwave oven by using 2.45 GHz frequencies and at power of 750 W. The reaction was completed in 15 min. The microwave heating process was achieved by the help of the NaH2PO4·2H2O which is the only microwave absorber in the initial mixture. The product was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier transform infra red (FT-IR) techniques and the results confirms the rhombohedral crystal structure of the NaTi2(PO4)3 with the unit cell parameters of a = 8.4913(3), c = 21.7858(12) Å, space group R3¯c and Z:6. The titled compound is also known as a member of NASICON materials. In future, it is possible to synthesize different types of sodium including NASICON compounds by the help of microwave susceptor agent of the NaH2PO4·2H2O.