Nano-sized BaSnO3 powder via a precursor route: Comparative study of sintering behaviour and mechanism of fine and coarse-grained powders

Abstract Preparation of a very fine BaSnO 3 powder by calcination of a barium tin 1,2-ethanediolato complex precursor and its sintering behaviour are described herein. A rate controlled calcination process to 820 °C leads to a nm-sized BaSnO 3 powder with a specific surface area of S  = 15.1 m 2 /g ( d av.  = 55 nm). The powder has a slightly larger cell parameter of a  = 412.22(7) pm compared to the single crystal value, which decreases with increasing calcination temperature and reaches the reference value above 1000 °C. The sintering behaviour is compared between fine and coarse-grained BaSnO 3 powders. Corresponding powder compacts of the nano-sized BaSnO 3 achieve a relative density of 90% after sintering at 1600 °C for 1 h and at 1500 °C and a soaking time of 30 h, whereas coarse-grained powder compacts reach only 80% of the relative density at 1650 °C (10 h). Furthermore, the shrinkage mechanisms of fine and coarse-grained powder compacts have been investigated and are discussed.