Synthesis and characterization of the multifunctional ceramic system Ca1-xCuxSnO3 (0.0dxd1.0) aiming at optic and electrical applications

• Grant number: 20/00324-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2020
• End date: January 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Miguel Ángel Ramírez Gil
• Grantee: Mariana Gimenez Teixeira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Due to its multifunctional properties, CaSnO3 (CSO) has gained space among current research especially when associated with other doping elements or additives forming ceramic composites. Copper has, in addition to two oxidation states, freedom of coordination, which can give an improvement in the (di)electric properties of the CSO when placed to replace calcium. Therefore, the objective of this project is to study the substitution of Ca2+ by Cu2+ in the Ca1-xCuxSnO3 (0.0dxd1.0) ceramic system in the form of powders and bulks, and to analyze the effect on (micro)structural, optical, dielectric and varistors properties. The ceramic systems in the form of powders will be prepared by the solid state reaction method, which will then be sintered in a conventional oven at temperatures and times suitable to reach the form of dense bulks. The structure of the ceramic systems in the form of powders will be studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and visible ultraviolet (UV-vis), as well as the photoluminescent (PL) and photocatalytic responses. For ceramic systems in the form of bulks, their structure will be analyzed by XRD and the microstructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dielectric and non-ohmic responses of the material will be studied using techniques such as impedance spectroscopy and voltage-current measurements, defining parameters as constant and dielectric loss and nonlinearity coefficient, electric field rupture, leakage current, among others, related to the dielectric and non-ohmic properties respectively.