Effect of Sintering Temperature on the Phase Formation, Microstructure and Electrical Properties of (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.93(Ba0.945Ca0.055)0.07(Ti0.9896La0.0025Nb0.0025Sn0.0054)O3 Solid Solutions Prepared by the Solid State Combustion Technique

Abstract

In this study, the effect of the sintering temperature (950-1150^oC for 2 h) on the phase formation, microstructure and electrical properties of (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)_0.93(Ba_0.945Ca_0.055)_0.07 (Ti_0.9896La_0.0025Nb_0.0025Sn_0.0054)O₃ (BNBC)(TLNS) solid solutions prepared via the solid state combustion technique, using glycine as fuel, were studied. The XRD pattern of all sintered sampled exhibited a single perovskite structure with the co-existence of the rhombohedral and tetragonal phases. The average grain size increased with increasing sintering temperature. The density, dielectric constant (at T_r and T_m) and piezoelectric constant (d₃₃) all increased as the sintering temperature increased up to 1100^oC and then all values dropped. The sample that showed the highest density (5.87 g/cm³), the highest dielectric constant (e_r @ 1978, e_m @ 6287), and the highest d₃₃ value (228 pC/N), was the sample sintered at 1100^oC.