Effect of sintering additives on the densification and dielectric properties of Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 ceramics synthesized by a soft-chemistry method

Nano-crystalline Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 powders with addition of LiNbO3 or LiF as sintering additives were prepared by a soft-chemistry synthesis using polyethylene glycol. Calcination at 600 ?°C results in nanocrystalline (dcryst. ?? ?30 ?nm) which sintered between 1000 and 1300 to ceramic bodies. By 10 20 ?mol% LiNbO3, the temperature was reduced about 200 ?K activation energy initial stage decreases from 386 271 ?kJ ?mol?1. The aid improves grain growth dense bodies obtained after 1125 for 1 ?h. A higher content favors formation pillar-like microstructure. XRD patterns ceramics above show only reflections phase indicating an incorporation structure. Dielectric measurements reveal diffuse transition relaxor-like behavior. (Tm) depends on conditions is 117 127 very close pure Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6, while shifts Tm around becomes slightly more diffuse. optical band gap samples ?3.3 ?eV conditions. We also tried aid, but this leads considerable amounts secondary phases relative densities 82%.