Structural, compositional and electrical properties of co-precipitated zinc stannate

Zinc stannate (Zn2SnO4) powders were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method using stannic chloride pentahydrate (SnCl4·5H2O) and zinc acetate (Zn(CH3COO)3·4H2O) as precursors in aqueous medium. The influence of sintering temperatures on the structural, compositional, dielectric, electrical and impedance properties has been studied. X-ray diffraction study reveals that samples sintered at 400–1200 °C show combined phases viz. ZnO, SnO2, Zn2SnO4. The observed binding energies of Sn 3d5/2, Zn 2p3/2 and O 1s reveal that Sn and Zn are present in oxidized state (Sn–O–Zn). We studied interparticle interactions like grains, grain boundary effects using complex impedance spectroscopy.

► Synthesis and characterization of coprecipitated zinc stannate. ► Structural analysis shows hexagonal, tetragonal and spinel cubic (Zn2SnO4) phases. ► The influence of sintering temperature on structural and electrical properties. ► Complex impedance analysis shows the small polaron conduction mechanism.