Synthesis of anisotropic micro-crystals of cubic Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3

A novel method of synthesizing Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 anisotropic micro-crystals is reported. Its crystal structure is cubic above 520 °C and still pseudo cubic at the temperature below. Platelet crystals of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 were converted from Bi4Ti3O12 micro-crystals. Platelet Bi4Ti3O12 crystals were produced by molten salt synthesis. They were subjected to the second molten salt treatment with Na2CO3 and TiO2 at 800–1200 °C. Bi4Ti3O12 crystals were successfully transformed into Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 crystals with an inherited platelet shape. Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 crystals have a (h00) plane parallel to the platelet.