Characterization of K₆Ta_10.8O₃₀ Microrods with Tetragonal Tungsten Bronze-Like Structure Obtained from Tailings from the Penouta Sn-Ta-Nb Deposit

Abstract

In this work, a deep characterization of the properties of K6Ta10.8O30 microrods has been performed. The starting material used to grow the microrods has been recovered from mining tailings coming from the Penouta Sn-Ta-Nb deposit, located in the north of Spain. The recovered material has been submitted to a thermal treatment to grow the microrods. Then, they have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman and micro-photoluminescence. The results of our study confirm that the K6Ta10.8O30 microrods have a tetragonal tungsten bronze-like crystal structure, which can be useful for ion-batteries and photocatalysis.

Keywords

• mining tailings
• tantalum
• X-ray diffraction
• Raman spectroscopy
• scanning electron microscopy