Study of the formation mechanism of sol-gel derived SBN powders using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry

Sol-gel derived SrxBa1-xNb2O6(SBN) powders of different chemical compositio n (x = 0.3 to x = 0.75) were prepared at annealing temperatures ranging fro m 600 degrees C to 1400 degrees C. Their structural properties were studied by Raman spectroscopy (RS) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The annealing t emperatures for fabrication of tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) type SBN ar e found to depend on the composition. Our results suggest that the developm ent of TTB phase SBN with x not equal 0.5 follows two parallel reaction rou tes. At low temperature, the TTB phase SBN50 (x = 0.5) and excess BN or SN were formed initially. Thereafter these two phases formed the solid solutio n of SBN at higher annealing temperature.