Synthesis, sintering and electrical properties of P-doped Bi4V2O11 ceramics

Partial substitution of vanadium by phosphorus in Bi4V2O11, compound belonging to the Aurivillius family, leads to the formation of Bi4V2−xPxO11 solid solution with an orthorhombic symmetry and does not stabilize the γ-high temperature form down to room temperature. X-ray diffraction, density measurements, thermal analysis and IR spectroscopy have been used to confirm the formation of the solid solution. The influence of sintering temperature on the microstructure and the grains size of the samples with different compositions was investigated by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The evolution of the electrical conductivity with phosphorus ratio has been investigated by impedance spectroscopy and correlated to the structural transformations.