Synthesis dependent characteristics of Sr1-xMnxTiO3 (x=0.03, 0.05, 0.07 and 0.09)

TL;DR

This study compares synthesis methods for Sr1-xMnxTiO3, analyzing phase purity, microstructure, and dielectric properties, revealing the influence of synthesis route and Mn doping level on material characteristics.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive comparison of synthesis routes for Sr1-xMnxTiO3, highlighting how different methods affect phase purity, microstructure, and dielectric behavior.

Findings

Oxalate precipitation yields monophasic samples at 3 and 5 mol % Mn.

Freeze-drying produces nanopowders with 35-65 nm crystallite size.

Microstructure and dielectric properties are significantly influenced by synthesis route.

Abstract

Sr1-xMnxTiO3 (where x = 0.03, 0.05, 0.07 and 0.09) was synthesized via different routes that include solid-state, oxalate precipitation and freeze drying. In oxalate precipitation technique, compositions corresponding to 3 and 5 mol % doping of Mn were monophasic whereas the higher compositions revealed the presence of the secondary phases such as MnO, Mn3O4 etc., as confirmed by high resolution X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The decomposition behavior of the precursors prepared using oxalate precipitation method corresponding to the above mentioned compositions was studied. Nanopowders of compositions pertaining to 5 to 9 mol % of Mn doping were obtained using freeze-drying technique. The average crystallite size of these nanopowders was found to be in the 35 to 65 nm range. The microstructural studies carried out on the sintered ceramics, fabricated using powders synthesized by different routes established the fine grained nature (< 1 microm) of the one obtained by freeze drying method. Raman scattering studies were carried out in order to complement the observations made from XRD regarding the phase purity. The dielectric properties of the ceramics obtained by different synthesis routes were studied in the 80 - 300 K temperature range at 100 kHz and the effect of grain size has been discussed.