Preparation and characterization of bismuth silicate nanopowders

Bismuth silicate (Bi₄Si₃O₁₂) nanopowders were prepared by the sol-gel method. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and Bi₂O₃ were used as the starting materials. The precursors were heat-treated at 750°C for 2 h. The size distribution of Bi₄Si₃O₁₂ nanopowders is 40–100 nm. The thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) curves, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) microphotograph of Bi₄Si₃O₁₂ were discussed. Compared with crystal materials, the excitation and emission spectra of Bi₄Si₃O₁₂ nanopowders indicated a blue shift. Translated from Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2006, 22(7): 1327–1329 (in Chinese)