Synthesis by the Pechini`s methodo of CaCu3Ti4O12 Nanoparticles

Abstract

The phase and nanoparticles formation of composition CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO), through the Pechini method, were studied with structural and thermophysical characterization techniques. Thermogravimetry (TG) and Differential thermal analysis (DTA) were used to determine appropriate conditions for preparing the desired single phase, whereas measurements of X-ray diffraction were used to identify other byproducts or possible phases formed along with CCTO, and for the structural refinement by the Rietveld method. The CCTO phase was found accompanied only with CuO as a secondary phase. The crystallite size of nanoparticles obtained was 62±4 nm. The main factors that influence the product quality are related to the type and purity grade of the starting reagents as well as some factors that have not been optimized in the stages of pre-synthesis (definition of pH and time of homogenization of the solution, etc.) . The synthesis of CCTO was obtained after thermal treatment of precursors at 800 ° C for 6 h, showing that the method is highly efficient and viable, with temperature and time being among the lowest values reported in other studies..