The structure and PTCR effects of Mg-doped ZnTiO3 ceramics

Zinc titanate doped with magnesium was produced by a conventional solid state reaction technique using metal oxides. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern showed a single phase of ZnTiO3. The magnesium can replace the zinc ions and form a solid solution in the ZnTiO3 phase, and the intensities of the ZnTiO3 peaks decreased with increasing addition of Mg. The materials thus produced are semiconductors, with a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity. Increased addition of magnesium decreases the electrical resistivity. In addition, the sintered density and c/a ratio also rise with the increasing addition of Mg, while the open porosity decreases. Moreover, the Curie temperature (Tc) of the (Zn1−xMgx)TiO3 materials can be shifted to a higher temperature by increasing the Mg2+ concentration.