The effect of carbon addition on the synthesis process and the physical/electrocatalytic properties of FeTiO3 nanopowder produced by solution combustion synthesis method

The FeTiO₃ nanopowder is a vital engineering material known for its exceptional performance in energy generation, storage, electrochemical sensors, and catalysis. However, synthesizing FeTiO₃ nanopowder with high crystallinity and phase purity typically requires specialized equipment and controlled heat treatment due to the instability of Fe²⁺ ions. Using the one-step solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method, FeTiO₃ nanopowder withe high crystallinity were successfully produced utilizing basic equipment. Additionally, the influence of carbon additives on phase transitions, as well as the physical and physicochemical properties of the synthesized powder, was examined. XRD results indicate that increasing the amount of fuel, particularly glycine, creates a stable environment for the crystallization of FeTiO₃ nanoparticles. Moreover, enhancing the carbon content in precursor solutions with urea enhances reduction conditions and boosts the stability of FeTiO₃ in the final product. The presence of carbon additives in glycine-fuel samples leads to unfavorable outcomes by increasing the levels of TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ undesirable phases. Incorporating additive carbon into the urea-synthesized precursor solution resulted in a particle size increase exceeding 50 nm and raised the combustion temperature by a minimum of 230 °C. Furthermore, the presence of 15 wt% additive carbon in the sample synthesized with glycine improved the specific surface area of particles from 2.44 m²/g to 18.41 m²/g. Obtained results have shown that achieving high crystallinity of FeTiO₃ nanopowder is feasible through a one-step solution combustion synthesis process. This can be accomplished by carefully choosing the synthesis conditions, such as the type and quantity of fuel, along with the carbon additive.