title: Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structure of a Potassium Tantalum Defect Pyrochlore.
abstract: The synthesis and crystal structure of potassium tantalate (KTa(2)(O,OH)(6).1.8H(2)O) with a defect pyrochlore structure are reported. The compound was crystallized directly from tantalum pentoxide in basic solution under hydrothermal conditions at temperatures as low as 200 degrees C. Ion exchange of this substance in acid yielded an H-type defect pyrochlore. Both highly crystalline K-type and H-type materials absorb argon and have BET surface areas of about 14 m(2)/g. The crystal structures were refined by the Rietveld least-squares method from powder X-ray diffraction data. The final R(wp) and chi(2) were 7.70% and 2.79, respectively. The high thermal stability and control of acidity of these materials, along with the simple and cheap synthesis, may find many applications in sorption, catalysis, and microelectronics.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3060, U-60, Charles E. Waring Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-4060, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-4060, and Molecular Simulations, Inc., 9685 Scranton Road, San Diego, California 92121-3752.
authors.forename: Niangao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Zheng-Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: William S.
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Steven L.
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Suib
authors.forename: John M.
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Newsam
authors.forename: Steven M.
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Levine