Effect of microwave sintering on the structural studies of Sr²⁺-substituted BCZT ceramics synthesized through the solid-state reaction method

Abstract

$S{r}^{2+}$-Substituted lead-free $B{a}_{0.85}C{a}_{0.15-x}S{r}_{x}Z{r}_{0.9}T{i}_{0.1}{O}_{3}$ for x = 0.000, 0.005, 0.010, 0.015, and 0.020 was prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method. These samples were sintered through microwave heating rather than conventional sintering. The structural properties were studied with XRD, SEM and FTIR. The crystallinity was calculated using Scherrer’s formula, particle density was calculated with Smith and Vijn formula, and micro strain and dislocation densities were calculated from Williamson–Hall plots. Nelson–Riley plot was used for finding the exact lattice parameters. FTIR was used to study the chemical bonding of the crystalline samples. The average size of the particle was increased, whereas the lattice parameters, densities and porosity were decreased with an increasing concentration of $S{r}^{2+}$ ions. XRD studies indicated that the samples were of cubic structure for all the compositions. The analysis of FTIR showed broad peaks for all concentrations of $S{r}^{2+}.$ SEM analysis showed that the particles were of irregular shapes and the porosity was calculated from SEM images and coincided with XRD studies.