Study of structural and mechanical aspects of Praseodymium and Europium doped SrBi2Nb2O9 ceramics

Bismuth Layer Structured Ferroelectrics (BLSFs) have prominent technological applications as electronic materials. Strontium Bismuth Niobate (SBN) ceramics doped of rare earth elements SrBi2−xRxNb2O9 (R = Pr, Eu and x = 0.0, 0.2) have been synthesized by solid state reaction method between corresponding oxides and carbonate. The prepared ceramic samples are analysed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) technique to conform the formation of single phase layered perovskite. Further, XRD studies at room temperature revealed orthorhombic structure with lattice parameters a = 5.5023 Å, b = 5.5083 Å and c = 25.0985 Å for SBN. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) envisage a slight change in the morphology of the doped samples compared to SBN. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX) confirms the elements making of the samples being analysed. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra showed a significant shift in the band position for doped samples in comparison with SBN. The density and volume of the studied ceramic samples has been identified varying with rare earth element doping in SBN. The Vickers hardness of the samples is measured under a load of 500 g with dwell time of 20 s using Vickers hardness tester for the first time.