Combined combustion sol-gel synthesis of LiNbO3, LiTaO3, NaNbO3 and NaTaO3

A combined combustion-synthesis of lithium and sodium niobates and tantalates was investigated through a sol-gel approach. The addition of a drop of methanol in an agate mortar in air initiated the reaction between M′2O (M′ = Li, Na) and MCl5 (M = Nb, Ta). The formation of LiTaO3 exemplified the overall process of reaction involving a two way route. The addition of methanol initiated the initial solid state reaction for the exothermic reaction to take place.