Synthesis and Characterization of K2SiF6 Hexafluorosilicate

Abstract

Hexafluorosilicates such as K2SiF6 (Hieratite) exists in nature as minerals. The common formula is M2SiF6 where M represents alkali ion. All the alkali fluorosilicates including K2SiF6 decomposes in the temperature range of 300 to 700 °C with SiF4 as residual product. SiF4 has an important application in the solar cells fabrication industry. Due to low thermal stability, it is difficult to prepare these complex fluorides by the conventional methods. Hence, a one step simple wet-chemical route was adopted. Confirmation of successful precipitation of K2SiF6 during our process of synthesis was done by using various analysis techniques. Results obtained through XRD, EDAX and SEM measurements are reported and discussed here in brief.