Synthesis, microstructure and the crystalline structure of the barium titanate ceramics doped with lanthanum

Abstract

In the present study BaTiO3 and Ba1􀀀xLaxTiO3 (0.1-0.4mol.% La) ceramic powders were synthesized by the conventional mixed oxide method (MOM). The characterization of the ceramic powders was carried out using a simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), with a combined DTA/TG/DTG system (Netzsch STA409). The results of thermal analysis allowed to determine the optimal temperature of synthesis. Microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), crystalline structure was studied by X-ray diffraction method (XRD). The EDS investigations showed that samples exhibited conservation of stoichiometry according to the chemical composition formula. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed formation of the desired crystalline structure both pure and La3+-doped BaTiO3 ceramics exhibiting a perovskite-type structure ABO3 with tetragonal symmetry P4 mm.