SOLID SOLUBILITY OF NEODYMIUM IN BACEO3

Incorporation of Nd into the BaCeO3 perovskite structure was studied b y quantitative wavelength dispersive spectroscopy-electron probe micro analysis (WDS/EPMA) in combination with scanning electron microscopy ( SEM) and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD), Highly Nd-doped BaCeO3 sp ecimens, synthesized by mixed oxide technology, were sintered at 1400 degrees C in ambient air. Concentrations of cations obtained by microa nalysis were calculated to the ABO(3) perovskite formula, considering incorporation of Nd at Ba as well as at Ce sites. Nd-BaCeO3 solid solu tions may be represented by the general formula Ba1-XNdXCe1-Y-NdYO3-(Y -X/2)(V-O(..))((Y-X)/2). The ratio between Nd incorporated at Ba sites and at Ce sites (X/Y) is a function of the starting composition, chan ging from 1 in the CeO2-rich part of the BaO-CeO2-Nd2O3 system, to sim ilar to 0.1 in the BaO-rich part of the system.