Low-temperature synthesis of submicron-sized layered sodium titanate crystals using citrate salts

Layered sodium titanates are extremely advantageous for use in the energy and environmental fields. Herein, submicron-sized layered sodium titanate crystals were synthesized at low temperatures via solid-state reaction using trisodium citrate as the Na source. Characterization results including in situ observations showed that the decomposition of trisodium citrate proceeded at 300–350 °C, and the resulting activated Na species reacted with TiO2 at temperatures of 520 °C and above. This study therefore provides an economically viable method for the synthesis of layered titanate materials.