Molten salt synthesis of complex perovskite-related dielectric oxides

Perovskite related dielectric oxides of the formula Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3, Ba(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 and Ba(Zn1/3Ta2/3)O3 have been synthesized by the NaCl–KCl molten salt (flux) method at low temperatures of 900°C for 3 or 6 h. Sintering at 1000°C retained the cubic structure. Sintering at 1300°C generated minor amount (∼10%) of Ba5Nb4O15 in addition to the main cubic phase for the niobium compounds. The tantalum compounds, on the other hand, decomposed to Ba0.5TaO3, retaining a minor amount of the original cubic phase. Scanning electron micrographs show large grain size (upto 10 μm) in some of the samples obtained by the molten salt method.