Thermal and spectroscopic characterization of sol–gel-synthesized doped lanthanum gallate

In this study, a complex oxide solid solution consisting of lanthanum gallate with partial substitutions for strontium and magnesium (La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O2.85) was synthesized by the sol–gel route, aiming to obtain a sinter active powder and a final material that could be stoichiometrically controlled. The thermal behavior of the synthesized powder involves several steps of decomposition. The linear shrinkage of green compacts up to 1500 °C was 31%. The bulk conductivity of sintered specimens increases with sintering temperature up to 1400 °C. The stoichiometry was maintained for sintering temperatures up to 1450 °C. Elemental mapping obtained by energy-dispersive spectroscopy evidenced magnesium segregation at the grain boundaries. The overall results evidence the suitability of the synthesis method for preparing doped lanthanum gallate.