Synthesis of strontium bismuth niobate (SrBi2Nb2O9) using an aqueous acetate-citrate precursor gel: thermal decomposition and phase formation

The phase formation of SBN was studied by means of high temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD). At about 425 °C the intermediate fluorite phase is crystallized out of the amorphous precursor. The phase transformation into the desired ferroelectric perovskite phase seems to be dependent on the Bi-content: an excess of Bi lowers the onset temperature of perovskite formation.