Rapid synthesis of functional oxides by electric discharge assisted mechanical milling method

Here we report application of an electric discharge assisted mechanical milling (EDAMM) technique to synthesize various functional oxides. In this work we studied the effect of electric discharge milling conditions such as AC and DC discharges in helium, argon, nitrogen and oxygen on synthesis of complex oxide MgAl2O4 (i) from pre-mixed oxides as starting materials and (ii) from elemental powders by oxidation in oxygen plasma. Also a compound BaLa2Ti4O12 and CaCu3Ti4O12 was synthesized from elemental oxides by EDAMM and EDAMM and subsequent annealing, respectively. All samples were characterized using X-ray analysis. SEM was performed on MgAl2O4 samples and DTA on nanostructural CaCu3Ti4O12. By using EDAMM, single phase multi-element oxides can be formed in as little as 0.1% of the processing time required in conventional solid-state techniques.

► In this study we report application of an electric discharge assisted mechanical milling (EDAMM) technique to synthesize various functional oxides. ► The MgAl2O4 and BaLa2Ti4O12 powders have been successfully synthesized within 15 min. ► The CaCu3Ti4O12 powder forms a nanostructured phase after 15 min of EDAMM which transforms into a single CaCu3Ti4O12 phase during DTA annealing. ► By using EDAMM, single phase multi-element oxides can be formed in as little as 0.1% of the processing time required in conventional solid-state techniques.