Zirconolite transformation under reducing conditions

The structural behavior of zirconolite (CaZrTi2O7) under reducing conditions at high temperature has been studied, mainly by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD), but also with x-ray absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and electron paramagnetic resonance. The partial reduction of Ti4+ to Ti3+, associated with a reducing atmosphere heat treatment, led to the initial formation of perovskite (CaTiO3) as a second phase. As the concentration of Ti3+ in the zirconolite increased, so did the amount of perovskite until the zirconolite was totally transformed into a fluorite structured phase. Analysis of the reduced zirconolites showed them to be consistently deficient in Ca and enriched in Zr, in proportion to the concentration of Ti3+. To determine how electroneutrality was preserved in these reduced zirconolites, a series of zirconolites were prepared in air using In3+ and Ga3+ as models for Ti3+. These samples were then investigated by neutron and x-ray diffraction, SEM, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR). Ga-71 MAS NMR studies of the Ga substituted zirconolite exhibited a narrow resonance at similar to 13 ppm which was attributed to six-coordinate Ga incorporated in a trace perovskite phase. Broadline 71Ga NMR and Ga-69/71 NQR were required to characterize the Ga incorporated in the zirconolite, The resultant quadrupolar parameters of C-Q = 30.0 +/- 0.05 MHz and eta = 1.0 +/- 0.03 indicate that the Ga site is in a highly distorted environment which would suggest that it is located on the five-coordinate Ti site within the zirconolite lattice. These results were complemented by Rietveld refinement of the neutron diffraction data from the In-doped zirconolite sample, which was optimal when all the In was located on the five-coordinate Ti site with the excess Zr located on the Ca site. It would therefore appear that charge compensation for the presence of Ti3+ in zirconolite is effected via the substitution of an appropriate amount of Zr on the Ca site. The Ti3+-stabilized fluorite structure was readily oxidized back to a single phase zirconolite upon heating in air.