Study of synthesis, structure and temperature-dependent phase evolution of Barium Zirconium Titanate

In this study, Barium Zirconium Titanate (BaZrxTi1-xO3) (where x=0.1 and 0.2) structures were synthesized using starting materials of barium acetate, titanium (triethanolaminato) isopropoxide (80% w/w in isopropanol), and Zr(IV)propoxide (70% 1-propanol solution) through the Pechini method. The significance of this synthesis lies in its novel application of commercially available, air-stable organic titanate precursors. The BZT structures were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analyses. XRD patterns of the resultant samples, taken after calcination processes at temperatures ranging from 800°C to 1200 °C, support the hypothesis that zirconium is integrated into the structure. SEM results demonstrated that as the amount of Zr increased, the grain size of BZT decreased, with BZT2 particles exhibiting a spherical morphology. The grain sizes of the BZT2 sample ranged approximately from 180 to 50 nm. Furthermore, EDX analyses confirmed the substitution of Zr within the BZT structure.