Phase formation and high dielectric constant of calcium copper titanate using sol-gel route

Nano-sized calcium copper titanate (CCTO) powder was synthesized from a quick and innovative sol-gel process. Calcium nitrate, copper nitrate and titanium isopropoxide were used as the raw materials to synthesize the precursor product. The dried precursor powder was then milled and calcined at 450, 550, 650, 800, 850 and 950 degrees C for 3 h. The XRD results of the powder calcined at 800 degrees C indicates the formation of CCTO single phase. AFM studies shows that the average particle size of CCTO powder ranges around 80 nm. From the FTIR spectra the modes observed at 606, 525 and 463 cm(-1) was assigned to vibration modes of Ca-O, Cu-O and Ti-O-Ti, respectively. The samples sintered at 1,040 degrees C shows high density (96%) as compared to the theoretical value. The grain sizes of sintered pellets were determined by FE-SEM and the dielectric properties were studied by LCR meter.