XPS and Mössbauer studies on BaSn1−xNbxO3 (x ≤ 0.100)

A few compositions of perovskite oxide BaSn1−xNbxO3 (with x ≤ 0.10) system, prepared by solid state ceramic method, have been studied employing XPS and Mössbauer spectroscopy techniques. Mössbauer spectra of these compositions in the temperature range of 78–300 K reveal that the oxidation state of Sn is +4. In XPS measurements, compositions with x ≤ 0.010 show no evidence of Nb5+ signal whereas the compositions with x ≥ 0.050 show clear evidence of Nb5+ signals indicating some unreacted Nb2O5 component in the system. This confirms the earlier report where presence of small amount of unreacted Nb2O5 was predicted.