Abstract
Nano-structured one-dimensional $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ particles were synthesized by a molten salt process. Effects of processing parameters on the microstructure and band gap energy of the $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ powder were studied in this paper. For the synthesis of the $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ particles, two different raw materials of tubular shaped Na-titanate (Na-TiNT) and spherical shaped $TiO_2$ were utilized. Synthesizing with the raw material of Na-TiNT, around 70nm thick 1D-$Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ with the bandgap energy of 3.5 eV was obtained at $810^{\circ}C$. Below $810^{\circ}C$ or without the presence of NaCl, 1D-$Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ was in a relatively short in length and agglomerated state. With the processing temperature increased, the thickness of the 1D-$Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ was also observed to be increased. On the other hand, when $TiO_2$ was employed as a raw material, the mixed amount of $Na_2CO_3$ played an important role in transforming the morphology and phase of the raw material, affecting the bandgap energy of the synthesized product. Specific surface area of the synthesized 1D-$Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ was significantly affected by the raw and mixed materials as well as processing temperature. When Na-TiNT was processed at $810^{\circ}C$ with NaCl, the specific surface area of the 1D-$Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ showed the best value of 30.63 $m^2/g$.