FORMATION OF NIOBIUM DOUBLE OXIDES BY THE GLYCOTHERMAL METHOD

Thermal reaction of niobium alkoxide in organic media at 300-degrees-C yielded amorphous niobia, which maintained a surface area above 130 m2/g after calcination at 500-degrees-C. Niobium double oxides (LiNbO3, Zr6Nb2O17, CaNb2O6, CrNbO4, FeNbO4, ZnNb2O6 and R3NbO7 (R; rare earth)) were directly obtained by the reaction of niobium alkoxide with the corresponding metal alkoxide, acetate or acetylacetonate in 1,4-butanediol at 300-degrees-C. In some cases, amorphous product was obtained; however, double oxides (SrNb2O6, Co4Nb2O9, etc.) crystallized from the products at low temperatures.