Exfoliated nanoplatelets of an Aurivillius phase, Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12: Characterisation by X-ray diffraction and by high-resolution electron microscopy

Nanoparticles of the Aurivillius phase La-substituted BTO (Bi_4−xLa_xTi₃O₁₂, with x=0.75) were obtained through a chemical lithiation process. They have been characterised by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (diffraction and imaging at high resolution). The defect-free particles are platelet-shaped with the c large axis perpendicular to the plane. From high-resolution images, it is clear that the delamination process occurs at the level of the (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ intermediate layer and is destructive for this layer. The smallest thickness measured corresponds to one cell parameter (3.3 nm) but a large range of thicknesses have been observed: this suggests that the lithium insertion does not take place in all (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ layers, despite a large excess of lithium and a long reaction time. This is confirmed by ICP analysis, which leads to a formula Li_0.99Bi_3.25La_0.77Ti_3.00O₁₂ for the lithiated compound. This behaviour towards lithium intercalation differs from those observed with BTO in literature, where lithium insertion is reported as occurring in every (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ layer. Possible explanations for this difference are advanced based on microstructural and structural considerations.