Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles of Ba2EuZrO5.5: A new complex perovskite ceramic oxide

Nanoparticles of barium europium zirconate, a complex perovskite oxide, wer e synthesized using a modified self-propagating combustion synthesis. The s olid combustion products thus obtained were characterized by x-ray and elec tron diffraction, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis , infrared spectroscopy, particle-size analysis, surface area determination , gas adsorption studies, and high-resolution transmission electron microsc opy. According to the results of the x-ray and electron diffraction, as-pre pared powder showed the single phase of barium europium zirconate (Ba2EuZrO 5.5) without another phase and had a complex cubic perovskite (A(2)BB'O-6) structure. The transmission electron microscopic investigation showed a mea n grain size of 38 nm with a standard deviation of 12 nm. High-resolution l attice imaging of the nanoparticles indicated the possibility of finer crys tallite in the particle having the same orientation. The nanoparticles of B a2EuZrO5.5 obtained by the present method could be sintered to 97% theoreti cal density at a relatively low temperature of 1525 degrees C.