Synthesis of lanthanum-doped lead titanate ceramics using a modified sol–gel route and their structural analysis

Abstract

In the present work, La-doped lead titanate ceramics (Pb1− x La x TiO3) (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.30 mol%) were synthesized using a modified sol–gel route. The crystallization process in resulting ceramics and the effect of La doping on their microstructure have shown that single crystalline phases were obtained above 490 °C. A systematic decrease in lattice tetragonality with La incorporation, as evaluated using tolerance factor was confirmed by X-ray diffractometer and energy dispersive analysis of X-ray measurements. Average crystallite size variation was correlated with the sintering and the La content.