Investigations on the synthesis, structural and microstructural characterizations of Ba1-xSrxZrO3 nanoceramics

ABSTRACTStrontium (Sr) substituted barium zirconate (Ba1-xSrxZrO3, for x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) perovskite nanoceramics were prepared by simple, easy and cost-effective sol-gel auto combustion technique using citric acid as a fuel. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the formation of cubic phase structure for x = 0.0–0.6 composition with minor impurity of carbonate. However, for x = 0.8–1.0 orthorhombic distorted perovskite structure was observed. The average crystallite size (t), lattice constant (a, b and c) and other structural parameters of Sr substituted barium zirconate nanoceramics were calculated from XRD data. The average particle size was calculated by using the Debye-Scherer's formula obtained to be 18–25 nm. The average crystallite size, lattice parameter, unit cell volume and X-ray density value changes when Sr2+ ions are substituted in BaZrO3 lattice, resulting in the structural variation. The microstructural studies were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (...