The Impact of the Final Sintering Temperature on the Microstructure and Dielectric Properties of Ba0.75Ca0.25TiO3 Perovskite Ceramics

Ba0.75Ca0.25TiO3 ceramics were successfully synthesized by a simple solid-state reaction method. This study examined the influence of sintering temperature on the structure, microstructure, dielectric properties and electrical behavior of the material. The XRD analysis reveals that the tetragonal phase (P4mm) is dominant in all the synthesized materials, with those sintered at T = 1400 degrees C and T = 1450 degrees C being single-phase, while others exhibit a minor orthorhombic phase (Pbnm). Higher sintering temperatures promoted better grain boundary formation and larger grain sizes. The electric permittivity increased with temperature up to T = 1400 degrees C, followed by a sharp decline at T = 1450 degrees C. Additionally, the Curie temperature decreased with increasing sintering temperature, indicating changes in phase transition characteristics. Thermal analysis showed that higher sintering temperatures led to sharper heat capacity peaks, while pyroelectric and thermally stimulated depolarization currents were maximized at T = 1400 degrees C due to oxygen vacancies. These findings highlight the significant impact of sintering temperature on the material's structural and functional properties.