Effect of the synthesis route on the structural and dielectric properties of SrBi 1.8 Y 0.2 Nb 2 O 9 ceramics

This work is devoted to the synthesis and characterization of yttrium-doped SrBi 2 Nb 2 O 9 ceramics prepared by three methods: solid state reaction, co-precipitation, and hydrothermal. Multiple characterizations, specifically scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were used to validate the structural feature. The crystallite size was estimated by Scherrer’s formula and the Williamson–Hall plot. The effect of the process on the band intensities of the FTIR spectra was investigated. The crystallite size and microstructure of ceramics prepared from different synthesis processes were strongly influenced by the sinterability. SEM images revealed nanograin ceramics for materials prepared by co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods and micrograin ceramics prepared by the solid state method. The synthesized compounds underwent phase transitions at 480–465°C. The dielectric and electrical properties of these Y-doped SrBi 2 Nb 2 O 9 ceramics appear to be dependent on the grain size.