Citrate sol–gel method to prepare nanoparticles of a piezoelectric crystal material: La3Nb0.5Ga5.5O14 at low temperature

The nanoparticles of a piezoelectric crystal material: La3Nb0.5Ga5.5O14 (LGN) have been prepared via a citrate sol–gel method, the process of which was simple and the crystallization temperature of LGN nanoparticles was low. The sintered samples were characterized by means of thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron micrography (HRTEM). All the results illustrate that the trigonal crystallographic phase LGN nanoparticles were well crystallized. It is significant to the LGN crystal growth, as in which, the problem of decompensate and evaporate of Ga2O3 at high temperatures may be resolved.