The metathesis reactions of NbCl5 with lithium 2,6-dimethylphenoxide (LiO-2,6-PhMe2) afforded LiNbO(O-2,6-PhMe2)4 · 3THF which has been characterized by FT-IR, NMR and single crystal X-ray analysis. This molecular precursor was converted into pure LiNbO3 after heat treatment. Thermal conversion of this precursor can be divided into two stages: 1) at low calcinations temperature (200-400oC), where the progressive formation (crystallization) of LiNbO3 was observed; 2) at high calcinations temperature (600-1000 oC), where grain growth and secondary crystallization occurred. From the FT-IR/ XRD/TG-DTA investigations, it was found that the crystallization temperature of LiNbO3 for the current precursor system is significantly lower than those for conventional precursor systems.
Keywords: molecular precursor, lithium niobate, hetereometallic precursor