Synthesis and characterization of titanates of the formula MTiO3 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cd) by co-precipitation of mixed metal oxalates

When divalent metal chloride solutions of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cd were mixed with potassium titanyl oxalate solution, mixed metal oxalates were obtained in the case of Fe, Co and Ni at room temperature in the pH range 1.5-3. In the case of manganese, heating was found to be necessary to induce precipitation and complete precipitation occurred at 80 degrees C. Mixed cadmium and titanyl oxalate precipitation was complete at a pH of 3 at room temperature. Various physico-chemical techniques were employed to characterize the as-dried oxalate precursors and the final MTiO3 oxide powders (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cd) obtained on thermal decomposition. All these experimental results relating to the synthesis and characterizations of MTiO3 oxides are presented in this paper. The results suggest that the reaction of potassium titanyl oxalate and metal chloride solutions may not lead to the formation of a single molecular precursor by direct salt elimination reaction in the pH range 1.5-3. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.