Compound Formation and Crystal Structure in the System ZnO‐TiO ₂

Abstract

In addition to the well‐known zinc orthotitanate (Zn 2 TiO 4 ) and zinc metatitanate (ZnTiO 3 ), the study of solid‐state reactions in the system ZnO‐TiO 2 disclosed a previously unrecognized compound, Zn 2 Ti 3 O 8 . This compound was obtained when sulfate‐containing hydrous titanium oxide of anatase structure was reacted with ZnO at 700° to 900° C. It crystallized in a defect spinel structure with eight Zn 2+ ions occupying the tetrahedral positions and twelve Ti 4+ ions distributed in sixteen octahedral positions (a 0 = 8.395 ± 0.002 a.u.). Crystallographic data are given for zinc orthotitanate and metatitanate. Formation of the latter compound appeared to be favored by rutile TiO 2 sources and those readily convertible to rutile under the reaction conditions.