Formation mechanisms of platelet Sr₃Ti₂O₇ crystals synthesized by the molten salt synthesis method

The molten salt synthesis (MSS) method is utilized to synthesize the anisotropic platelet Sr3Ti2O7 (S3T2) single-crystal particles. The aim of this study is to identify the essence of platelet Sr3Ti2O7 crystal growth and guide the synthesis of anisotropic platelet SrTiO3 crystals as well as various technologically important materials. Based on the results of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, the formation mechanism of platelet Sr3Ti2O7 crystals conforms to a nucleation-structure rearrangement-dissolution-diffusion in situ epitaxial growth mechanism model. First, SrCO3 reacts with TiO2 to form submicrometer SrTiO3 nuclei. Then, most of the nuclei surrounded by salt ions aggregate and rearrange to form a large SrTiO3 matrix. The structural rearrangement and the subsequent in situ epitaxial growth processes control the morphology, composition, and size of the final Sr3Ti2O7 crystals. In the synthesis process, the conversion between SrTiO3 and Sr3Ti2O7 is as follows: and the crystallographic orientation relationship between Sr3Ti2O7 and SrTiO3 in the interface is (100)S3T2//{100}ST, (010)S3T2//{010}ST, and (001)S3T2//{001}ST.