SrMn1-xFexO3-δ (x = 0–1) black ceramic pigment: Synthesis, color properties, and application

Abstract

In this work, SrMn1-xFexO3-δ (x = 0–1) black ceramic pigments were synthesized by the solid-state method. The research explores the influence of calcination temperature and iron ion doping on the color properties of the pigments. Furthermore, the potential applications of SrMn1-xFexO3-δ pigments in ceramic glaze and heat-absorbing materials are also discussed. The findings reveal that the synthesized SrMnO3 pigment exhibits the lowest L*-value (22.30) at 1100 °C, although it displays a slight blue hue. To optimize the color properties of the SrMnO3 pigment, iron ion doping is employed. When the doping level of iron ions is 50 mol.% (i.e., x = 0.5), the L*-value of the SrMn0.5Fe0.5O3-δ pigment calcined at 1000 °C significantly decreases to 19.77, while the a*- and b*-values approach 0, resulting in a pure black color. This is attributed to the high surface roughness, low band gap energy, and substantial oxygen vacancies present in the SrMn0.5Fe0.5O3-δ pigment. The tinting mechanism of the SrMn1-xFexO3-δ pigment in the ceramic glaze is classified as "ion tinting", wherein the glaze color relies on the concentrations of Mn and Fe ions. When the pigment content reaches 36 wt%, the L*-value of the glaze drops to 4.94, showing a deep black shade. Additionally, the SrMn0.5Fe0.5O3-δ pigment exhibits excellent sunlight absorption capabilities, with a near-infrared reflectance (R*) of only 5.04%. This research presents a black ceramic pigment with various advantages, such as simplified processing, affordability, environmental friendliness, and exceptional color performance.