Hot-pressed 9.5/65/35 PLZT prepared by the polymeric precursor method

A 9.5/65/35 PLZT ceramic with a Pb-0.905 La-0.095 (Zr-0.65 Ti-0.35)(0.976) O-3 + 35 w% PbO formula was prepared using the Pechini method for powder preparation and two-step sintering in an oxygen atmosphere. Thr first step consisted of sintering at 1200 degrees C for 4 h with slow heating and cooling rates. The second step consisted of hot pressing at 1200 degrees C for 3 h, with slow heating and cooling rates and pressing pressures of 20 MPa (initial pressure) and 40 MPa (at sintering temperature). Investigations were made of the powder phase formation and powder morphology, i.e. The structure of sintered and hot-pressed PLZT ceramics. SEM microstructural analyses were carried out on the sintering and hot-pressing processes. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. Ltd and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Preparation of new glass systems by the polymeric precursor method for dental applications

Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are largely employed in Dentistry for several applications, such as luting cements for the attachment of crowns, bridges, and orthodontic brackets as well as restorative materials. The development of new glass systems is very important in Dentistry to improve of the mechanical properties and chemical stability. The aim of this study is the preparation of two glass systems containing niobium in their compositions for use as GICs. Glass systems based on the composition SiO2,Al2O3-Nb2O5-CaO were prepared by chemical route at 700degreesC. The XRD and DTA results confirmed that the prepared materials are glasses. The structures of the obtained glasses were compared to commercial material using FTIR, Al-27 and Si-29 MAS-NMR. The analysis of FTIR and MAS-NMR spectra indicated that the systems developed and commercial material are formed by SiO4 and AlO4 linked tetrahedra. These structures are essential to get the set time control and to have cements. These results encourage further applications of the experimental glasses in the formation of GICs. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal and structural investigation of SnO2/Sb2O3 obtained by the polymeric precursor method

SnO2-based materials are used as sensors, catalysts and in electro-optical devices. This work aims to synthesize and characterize the SnO2/Sb2O3-based inorganic pigments, obtained by the polymeric precursor method, also known as Pechini method (based on the metallic citrate polymerization by means of ethylene glycol). The precursors were characterized by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). After characterization, the precursors were heat-treated at different temperatures and characterized by X-ray diffraction. According to the TG/DTA curves basically two-step mass loss process was observed: the first one is related to the dehydration of the system; and the second one is representative to the combustion of the organic matter. Increase of the heat treatment temperature from 500 to 600 degrees C and 700 degrees C resulted higher crystallinity of the formed product.

Microstructure and electrical properties of perovskite (Pb, La)TiO3 thin film deposited at low temperature by the polymeric precursor method

High-quality (Pb, La)TiO3 ferroelectric thin films were successfully prepared on a Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrate for the first time by spin coating, using the polymeric precursor method. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that the films are polycrystalline in nature. This method allows for low temperature (500 degrees C) synthesis, a high quality microstructure and superior dielectric properties. The effects on the microstructure and electrical properties were studied by changing the La content. The films annealed at 500 degreesC have a single perovskite phase with only a tetragonal or pseudocubic structure. As the La content is increased, the dielectric constant of PLT thin films increases from 570 up to 1138 at room temperature. The C-V and P-E characteristics of perovskite thin films prepared at a low temperature show normal ferroelectric behavior, representing the ferroelectric switching property. The remanent polarization and coercive field of the films deposited decreased due to the transformation from the ferroelectric to the paraelectric phase with an increased La content. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

EQCM study during lithium insertion/deinsertion processes in Nb2O5 films prepared by polymeric precursor method

The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) technique was used to study two chemically distinct Nb2O5 electrochromic thin films (one pure and the other lithium-doped) during the lithium electroinsertion reaction. In the initial cycles, the electrode showed an irreversible mass variation greater than expected for Li+ insertion/deinsertion processes, which was attributed to the wettability effect (allied to the porous morphology) that emerged as the dominant process in apparent electrode mass changes. As the cycles progressed, the mass variation stabilized and the changes in apparent mass became reversible, showing a good correlation with the charge variations.The results generally indicated that the Li+ insertion/deinsertion process occurred more easily in the Nb2O5-doped film, which also displayed a greater capacity for Li+ insertion. However, a total mass/charge balance analysis revealed that the stoichiometry of the Li+ solid state insertion/deinsertion reaction was similar in the two electrodes under study. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of temperature on the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of bismuth titanate thin films obtained by the polymeric precursor method

The (1 1 7) and (0 0 1 0)-oriented Bi4Ti3O12 thin films were fabricated on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by using a polymeric precursor solution under appropriate crystallization conditions. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed relatively large grains, which is typical for this system. The capacitance dependence on voltage is strongly non-linear, confirming the ferroelectric properties of the films resulting from the domain switching. The (1 1 7)-oriented films exhibited a higher remanent polarization (23.7 μ C cm(-2)) than the (0 0 1 0)-oriented films (11.8 μ C cm(-2)). Fatigue tests revealed that the temperature of thermal treatment and degree of orientation affect the performance of the device. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crystallographic, dielectric and optical properties of SrBi2Ta2O9 thin films prepared by the polymeric precursor method

Strontium bismuth tantalate thin films were prepared on several substrates (platinized silicon (PvTi/SiO2/Si), n-type (100)-oriented and p-type (111)-oriented silicon wafers, and fused silica) by the solution deposition method. The resin was obtained by the polymeric precursor method, based on the Pechini process, using strontium carbonate, bismuth oxide, and tantalum ethoxide as starting reagents. Characterizations by XRD and SEM were performed for structural and microstructural evaluations. The electrical measurements, carried on the MFM configuration, showed P-r values of 6.24 muC/cm(2) and 31.5 kV/cm for the film annealed at 800 degreesC. The film deposited onto fused silica and treated at 700 degreesC presented around 80 % of transmittance.

SrSnO3:Nd obtained by the polymeric precursor method

In this work, the synthesis of Nd-doped SrSnO3 by the polymeric precursor method, with calcination between 250 and 700 A degrees C is reported. The powder precursors were characterized by TG/DTA and high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD). After heat treatment, the material was characterized by XRD and infrared spectroscopy. Ester and carbonate amounts were strictly related to Nd-doping. According to XRD patterns, the orthorhombic perovskite was obtained at 700 A degrees C for SrSnO3 and SrSn0.99Nd0.01O3. For Sr0.99Nd0.01SnO3, the kinetics displayed an important hole in the crystallization process, as no peak was observed in HTXRD up to 700 A degrees C, while a XRD patterns showed a crystalline material after calcination at 250 A degrees C.

Yellow ZnxNi1-xWO4 pigments obtained using a polymeric precursor method

New tungstate-based ceramic pigments, displaying ZnxNi1-xWO4 stoichiometry, were obtained at low temperature using a polymeric precursor method. The powder precursors were milled in an attritor mill in an alcoholic rnedium and heat treated for 12 h. yielding homogeneous and crystalline powder pigments. Characterization (TG/DTA, XRD, IR and colorimetry) showed that mass loss increased with increasing Zn contents. Despite the presence of secondary phases and impurities, the wolframite phase was present in all samples. IR analysis revealed bands related to Me-O and [WO6](6-) group stretching was observed. The intensity of the yellow color of the pigments increased with increasing amount of nickel. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.

Superparamagnetic Ni:SiO2-C nanocomposites films synthesized by a polymeric precursor method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

(Sr,Tm)ZrO3 powders prepared by the polymeric precursor method: Synthesis, optical properties and morphological characteristics

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Heterogeneous Fenton reactants: a study of the behavior of iron oxide nanoparticles obtained by the polymeric precursor method

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Lanthanum-based perovskites obtained by the polymeric precursor method

Cobalt oxides, specially the ones with perovskite structure, are of a high technological interest, due to their interesting optical, electrical and magnetic properties. La(1 -x)Ca(x)CoO(3) powder samples were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method, with x varying from 0 to 0.4. The powder precursors were characterized by TG/DTA, XRD and IR. The TG curves showed several thermal decomposition steps; the first one is ascribed to the loss of water and the remaining steps are related to the combustion of the organic matter. The XRD patterns indicated only the presence of the perovskite phase. Moreover, the structure changes from rhombohedral to cubic, as calcium is added to the perovskite and the calcination temperature increases.

Nanometric Pb1-xLaxTiO3 (x=0, 0.13 and 0.27) powders obtained by the polymeric precursor method

PLT (Pb1-xLaxTiO3, in which x = 0, 0.13 and 0.27) powders were successfully synthesized using the polymeric precursor method, based on the Pechini method. The polymeric precursors were calcined at temperatures ranging from 350 to 500 degrees C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed the evolution of the crystalline phase starting from the amorphous precursor. Thermogravimetric analyses (TG) and differential thermal analyses (DTA) of the powder precursors showed the influence of the pH on the elimination of organic material. PLT powders have a tendency to form agglomerates, what can be verified by comparing the values of the average particle sizes obtained by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, BET (D-BET) with the values of the average crystallite sizes obtained by XRD (D-XRD). (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.

Luminescence properties of Eu(3+)- and Mg(2+)-doped LiTaO(3) obtained via the polymeric precursor method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)