Obtaining Metallic Bismuth in Condensed Media Composed of Formates

Abstract

Microcrystalline metallic bismuth powders of varied morphology were obtained by reduction of bismuth precursors, basic bismuth formate and bismuth(III) formate in benzyl alcohol, hydrazine hydrate, and sodium borohydride. The methods of X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry were used to examine the phase composition and the morphology of the resulting metallic bismuth powders. A dispersion analysis of bismuth samples was made by the method of small-angle scattering of light for a proximate monitoring of the particle size in powders of different fractions. The specific surface area of the metallic bismuth sample was determined by the thermal desorption of argon.