Synthesis and Electrical Properties of Perovskite Sr(ZrxTi1-x)O3 (0≤x≤0.3) Ceramics

Strontium zirconate titanate (SZTO) ceramics with the molar formula Sr(Zr x T 1-x )O 3 in which x varies as 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mol-% were prepared using the conventional solid state reaction method. STO was detected as the sole phase in the zirconia-free sample fired at 1150°C, whereas biphasic strontium titanate (STO) and strontium zirconate (SZO) appeared in samples containing zirconia. At 1350 °C, SZTO appeared as a single phase in a composition containing ZrO 2 . The results showed that the ZrO 2 content markedly modified the microstructure of the prepared ceramics. The sintered STO ceramic achieved a maximum of ∼99 % of the theoretical density at 1450 °C while the samples containing ZrO 2 showed high values of porosity. The results of dielectric behaviour in the range of 100 Hz up to 100 kHz at room temperature showed a sharp decrease in e", accompanied by a slight decrease in e', making these ceramics particularly suitable for insulation purposes, especially at higher frequency ranges.