Study of Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Barium Cerate at High Temperatures

Abstract

Crystalline barium cerate was synthesized by oxalate coprecipitation from nitrates of barium and cerium [1]. The oxalate precursor prepared by chemical methods was calcined at different temperatures up to 950°C. The barium cerate was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction investigation enables the determination of the phases that originate at different stages of synthesis and the crystal structure of final barium cerate, as well. From XRD patterns the average size of coherent regions was estimated by using Halder-Wagner method [2]. Both size and shape of crystallites were also studied by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that crystallites of barium cerate arise within the initial particles of the oxalate precursor.