The Preparation of BaCeO3 Nanopowders by Pechini Method

BaCeO3 Perovskite-type oxide single phase nanopowders were prepared by the Pechini method. A polymeric precursor was synthesized by use of Ba(NO3)2 and Ce(NO3)3•6H2O AR powders as metal ion sources, and citric acid and ethylene glycol as chelating agents and reaction medium, respectively. To determine the optimum experimental parameters to synthesize the single phase BaCeO3 nanopowders, the effects of some experimental factors, such as total metal ion concentration, water bath temperature, and dosages of citric acid and ethylene glycol, on the quality of sol and gel formed in the reaction were discussed. And the optimum calcination temperature was investigated using DTA-TG analysis. The results indicate that the optimum experimental conditions are including an appropriate total metal ion(Ba2+ and Ce3+) concentration of 0.05 mol/L, gelling temperature of 70 °C, concentration ratio of citric acid to total metal ions of 5 : 1 (i.e. 0.25 mol/L : 0.05 mol/L), and that of citric acid to ethylene glycol of 1 : 2 (i.e. 0.25 mol/L : 0.50 mol/L), and proper calcination temperature of 900 °C for 4 hours.