Method of making lead-rich and bismuth-rich pyrochlore compounds using an alkaline medium

Abstract

A liquid solution method of preparing electrically conductive pyrochlore compounds of high surface area, having the formula: A.sub.2 [B.sub.2-x A.sub.x ]0.sub.7-y is disclosed wherein A is selected from lead, bismuth and mixtures thereof, B is selected from ruthenium, iridium and mixtures thereof, 0 < x .ltoreq. 1.0 and 0 .ltoreq. y .ltoreq. 1. The method involves reacting A and B cations to yield a pyrochlore oxide by precipitation of A and B cations from an aqueous solution source of these cations in a liquid alkaline medium having a pH of at least about 13.5 in the presence of an oxygen source at a temperature below about 200.degree. C for a sufficient time for reaction to occur.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.