The initial study on the synthesis and characterization of NaZr₂(PO₄)₃ from West-Borneo ZrSiO₄

Abstract

Due to its excellent electrical properties, NaZr2(PO4)3-type sodium superionic conductor is a preferred material for the application in energy storages such as sodium ion batteries. Here, the initial study on the synthesis of NaZr2(PO4)3 from Indonesian West-Borneo Zircon is reported. The synthesis was conducted using our facile technique of a sodium carbonate sintering method. Zircon and the carbonate were mixed at a stoichiometry ratio approach and sintered at 1000°C. The sintered product was leached with water to dissolve the silica compound and continued by filtration and washing to obtain the zirconia compound, followed with phosphoric acid blending until pH 5 to get a precipitate. It was calcined at 800°C. The mineralogy, chemical composition, and particle sizes of the calcined product were evaluated. The synthesized sodium superionic conductor consists of NaZr2(PO4)3 with a trigonal structure as the main phase and SiO2 as the minor phase. The SiO2 content is accounting 6% of the total. Particle size analysis measured 90% of the total particle size distribution of the calcined NZP is less than 18.283 µm in sizes, while the average particle size is about 5.633 µm. The present study unveils a facile technique in the synthesis of NaZr2(PO4)3 from Indonesian West-Borneo ZrSiO4.