Synthesis of BaAl2Ge2O8 by the Pechini method, using graphene oxide as stabilizing agent

Abstract

In this study, BaAl2Ge2O8 (BAG) synthesis was performed using the Pechini method for the first time. Graphene oxide (GO), used as a precursor agent to obtain the pure phase of BAG, was incorporated to the precursor powders before heath treatment at 1300 °C. The pure BAG phase was obtained with a cation:citric acid molar ratio of 8:1, a pH = 8, and a mass concentration of GO from 0.5 wt%. The incorporation of 2 wt% of GO promoted the formation of irregular-shaped BAG flakes with a size smaller than 3 µm. The pure BAG phase exhibited a band gap of 5.12 eV.