Patent ID: 7879493

Claim:
A method of making a zirconium doped, alkali metal titanate, said method comprising the steps of: providing an alkali metal compound which comprises lithium carbonate; providing a first preselected amount of a titanium compound; providing a second preselected amount of a zirconium compound wherein the atomic percent of zirconium in said second preselected amount is in the range of 0.1-5% of the combined atomic percent of titanium in said first preselected amount and zirconium in said second preselected amount; preparing a mixture of said alkali metal compound, said first preselected amount of said titanium and said second preselected amount of said zirconium compound by impact milling said alkali metal compound, said titanium compound and said zirconium compound; and heating said mixture for a time, and at a temperature, sufficient to convert said mixture to said zirconium doped alkali metal titanate.