Effect of Homogeniety on Microstructure, Dielectric, and FerroelectricProperties of Strontium Barium Niobate

Abstract

Strontium barium niobate (SBN) is tetragonal tungsten bronze structured ferroelectric material.It is one of the few lead-free ferroelectrics in the fore-front of environment-friendly electroceramicresearch and development. The unusual sintering behaviour of SBN exhibits abnormal graingrowth, duplex microstructure, and low density that has plagued commercial exploitation of SBN.The formation of duplex microstructure becomes more prominent when synthesised byconventional solid-state approach. Compositional inhomogeneity is believed to be the key playerof such ambiguity. Will homogeneous mixing eliminate this problem? To answer this question,first SBN was synthesised by conventional solid-state technique, then coprecipitation technique,a wet chemical route, was employed for synthesis of SBN. In coprecipitate route, the precursorswere mixed at the molecular level. It is thought that the improved composition uniformity mighthelp in eliminating microstructure-related problems with improved dielectric properties. Thefindings in this connection on microstructure, dielectric, and ferroelectric properties of SBNwhen synthesised by conventional solid-state route as well as coprecipitation route have beendiscussed.