Low-temperature synthesis of nanocrystalline β-dicalcium silicate with high specific surface area

β-Dicalcium silicate (β-Ca₂SiO₄) was synthesized for the first time by a simple solution combustion method using citric acid as fuel. The influence of calcination temperature on the average crystallite size, specific surface area and morphology of the powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N₂ adsorption measurements (BET). The results showed that the increase of calcination temperature from 650°C to 1100°C resulted in larger crystallite size and lower specific surface area of β-Ca₂SiO₄. The highest specific surface area could reach as high as 26.7 m²/g when the as-burnt powders were calcined at 650°C.