Sol-gel synthesis and characterization of Ba(1-x)SrxTiO3 ceramics

Ba(1-x)SrxTiO3 (x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) nanopowders were synthesized from alkoxide solution precursor by sol-gel process. The Ba(1-x)SrxTiO3 powders calcined at 800 degrees C for 2 h were maintained in cubic phase and the cell parameters were in the range of 4.0282-3.9786. The effects of Sr doping and sintering temperature on structure and dielectric characteristics of the Ba(1-x)SrxTiO3 ceramics were investigated. The increase of Sr content in the Ba(1-x)SrxTiO3 ceramics causes the inhibition of grain growth and downward shift of Curie temperature (T-c). The T-c shift rate is 2.5 degrees C/mol% with increasing Sr content. At T-c, the dielectric constants of Ba(1-x)SrxTiO3 ceramics increase with the increasing of sintering temperature, and the highest permittivity (7032) is obtained for x=0.1 sample sintered at 1400 degrees C. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.