Effect of Sintering Time on the Phase Composition in PFN Ceramics Prepared by Sol-Gel Process

Abstract

Lead iron niobate Pb(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3 (PFN) ceramics were prepared using sol-gel synthesis by mixing acetates Pb and Fe with Nb-ethylene glycol-tartarate (Pechini) complex at 80°C, calcination of gels at 600°C and sintering at 1150°C for various times. The metastable pyrochlore phase Pb3Nb4O13 in stoichiometric precursor was partially decomposed to perovskite phase Pb(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3 in ceramics sintered at temperature of 1150°C for 2, 4 and 6 hours. Excess of Pb in molar ratio (Pb:Fe:Nb = 1.2:0.5:0.5) caused the i…