Synthesis and characterization of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous ternary oxide

A three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) ternary oxide, CsAlTiO₄, with a framework related to 'stuffed-tridymite' has been synthesized at temperatures 500-700 °C using a sol-gel precursor solution and templating with polystyrene spheres. The 3DOM material displayed pore diameters of 0.5-0.8 μm with the walls composed of anhedral and acicular CsAlTiO₄ crystals whose dimensions ranged from 16 to 25 nm. Microanalysis confirmed near-stoichiometric proportions (1:1:1) of Cs, Al and Ti. The effect of sintering temperature on the macroporous structure and on the CsAlTiO₄ walls was studied. As the sintering temperature increased from 500 to 600 °C the unit cell parameters varied through dilation (a and b) and contraction (c-axis), followed by a reversal of these trends from 700 to 900 °C. This behaviour in non-equilibrated CsAlTiO₄ can be attributed to distortion of the (Al, Ti)O₄ tetrahedral framework, however at the highest temperature the cell constants stabilized close to those reported for single crystal CsAlTiO₄. X-ray amorphous content was significant in all materials varying from 73 wt% after 500^oC and reducing to 44 wt% at 900 °C.