Synthesis of layer-structured ferroelectric Bi3NbTiO9 plate-like seed crystals

Pure bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric Bi3NbTiO9 plate-like seed crystals are synthesized by molten-salt method in NaCl-KCl flux using Bi3NbTiO9 precursor from precipitation. Single phase Bi3NbTiO9 powder is obtained in NaCl-KCl flux at 700 °C for only 0.5 h, which is 200 °C lower than the formation temperature of pure Bi3NbTiO9 Aurivillius phase without chloride salts. The Bi3NbTiO9 platelet synthesized at 900 °C is well-dispersed with the diameter of 5-10 μm and the aspect ratio of 25-50.