Multicomponent equiatomic lead strontium calcium titanate (Pb Sr Ca) Ti O3 prepared by reverse co-precipitation

Abstract

For the first time, a multicomponent phase-pure perovskite - lead strontium calcium titanate (PSCT) with lead, strontium and calcium being in equiatomic proportions was synthesized by reverse co-precipitation with different concentrations of de-ionized (DI) water and ethylene glycol (EG) as a solvent. Structural and optical properties were examined. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) was carried out to determine any phase changes in the sample. The phases present in the obtained powder were determined using x-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of different proportions of solvent on calcining temperature and time was studied. The entropy stabilization effect on the system was studied by cyclic heat treatment of powders. Characterization of the bonds by vibrational analysis was carried out using Fourier - transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The size and morphology were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The internal structure was determined using selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was done to confirm near equimolarity and homogenous distribution of the elements. The indirect bandgap of the sample was determined by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) to be 2.67 eV while the direct bandgap was 2.82 eV.