In situ study of the sintering of a lead phosphovanadate in an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope

The in situ sintering of a powder of Pb3(VO4)1.6(PO4)0.4 composition was performed in an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope. The electric current induced by the electron beam was found to reduce the effective temperature of sintering as well as to accelerate the kinetics of shrinkage of a cluster composed of sub-micrometric grains of material. The presence of the residual current flow in the cluster during observation for in situ experiments helps to reduce the apparent sintering temperatures from 50 to 150 °C compared to conventional heating conditions without current.

Research highlights
► We studied the in situ sintering of a lead phosphovanadate (LPV) in an ESEM.
► Sintering temperature and kinetics are modified by the electronic beam.
► Sintering temperature of LPV is decreased by 100 °C in standard conditions.
► Current density increases the kinetics of the sintering.
► We conclude that ESEM could be a means to study sintering under current.