A study on the synthesis of (Ba,Ca)(Ti,Zr)O3 nano powders using Pechini polymeric precursor method

Pechini polymeric precursor method was successfully used to synthesize (Ba0.95Ca0.05)(Ti0.85Zr0.15)O-3 nano powders. The results of TG/DTA, XRD and IR analyses showed that by heating the precursor between 490 degrees C and 580 degrees C, an intermediate phase with possible composition of (Ba,Ca)(2)(Ti,Zr)(2)O5CO3 was formed. Between 580 degrees C and 700 degrees C, the intermediate phase transformed to a crystalline solid solution by decarbonation reaction. The transformation completed at 700 degrees C. Nano-sized powders with equivalent sphere diameters about 72 nm were obtained by calcination of the precursor at 700 degrees C for 4 h. The ceramics sintered at 1300 degrees C for 2 h can reach about 95% theoretical density and the peak dielectric constant is 15,000 at 70 degrees C. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.