Study on the chemistry and structure of (Na(1-x)Bix)(Nb(1-y)Mny)O3 ceramics by XPS, AES and EPMA

The (Na1-xBix)(MnyNb1-y)O-3 ceramics are new compounds, obtained for the first time, on the base of sodium niobate with substitution of bismuth manganite. It was shown that the solubility limit for Mn ions in sodium niobate lattice does not exceed 1% at. Therefore, the co-doping with Bi ions was proposed to increase this limit. Bismuth ions are expected to replace Na ions and to ensure charge compensation in the formed compound, thus enhancing possibility of accumulation of the Mn ions in solution without losing the appropriate electrical and optical properties. To study the morphology of produced ceramic four methods of sample characterization were used: Xray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), electron microprobe analysis (EPMA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).