A citrate complex process to prepare nanocrystalline PbBi2Nb2O9 at a low temperature

PbBi2Nb2O9 nanocrystals with a perovskite-type structure were successfully synthesized at a relative low temperature via a citrate complex method. Metal ions were dispersed by citric acid in ethanol and ethylene glycol solvent, and then reacted with NH4H2[NbO(C2O4)3·3H2O] to form the gel. XRD results showed that pure PbBi2Nb2O9 nanocrystals could be obtained after calcined treatment of xerogel at 800 °C. The average particles size was 57 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the sintering process led to the agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The photocatalytic test showed that the sample prepared by the citrate complex method exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity than that of the sample prepared by the solid-state reaction.