A microwave-assisted sol–gel Pechini method for the synthesis of BaCe0.65Zr0.20Y0.15O3−δ powders

In this work, BaCe0.65Zr0.20Y0.15O3−δ powders with a perovskite-type structure were successfully synthesized by a microwave-assisted sol–gel Pechini method (SGP). By comparison, powders having the same nominal stoichiometry were also prepared without the microwave assistance. For the syntheses, nitrates were used as metal precursors, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and ethylene glycol were used as complexing and polymerizing agents, respectively. An extensive structural and morphological investigation by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been performed. Moreover, in order to check the phase transitions, simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses were (TG-DTA) performed on gels. With respect to the conventional Pechini method, the microwave-assisted process guaranteed a faster, energy-saving procedure for obtaining single-phase nanopowders of high purity. Moreover, a significant increase in pellet densities was achieved owing to a higher grain coalescence.