Thermal and structural characterization OF Sr1-xCoxTiO3 obtained by polymeric precursor method

The SrTi 1-x Co x O 3 ( x =0 to 0.2) system was prepared by the polymeric precursor method, also known as the Pechini method. The thermogravimetric curves of the powder precursors indicate that the mass loss below 200°C is due to the loss of water and adsorbed gases, and, for higher temperatures, the mass loss corresponds to the decomposition of the organic substance. For this system, a decrease in mass loss and in the final decomposition temperature can be observed with increasing amount of Co. IR analyses show vibration bands corresponding to titanium oxide as well as bands ascribed to carbonates. By means of XRD analysis, a decrease in the lattice parameter was observed for the highest Co 2+ substitution levels. This is probably due to the defect formation in the crystalline structure.