Synthesis and structural Characterization of Cu Substituted SrCoO3-δ Perovskite Oxides

Abstract

In this work, SrCo_1-xCu_xO_3-δ perovskite-type metal oxides (x = 0.00, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) were prepared by sol-gel method using citric acid as chelating agent. We have focused on examining the effect of partial substitution of cobalt by copper on the phase purity and crystallinity of the end products. The samples obtained after calcination at 900°C for 6h were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (IRTF) and powder size distribution (PSD).

   XRD patterns indicate that a stable perovskite phase with rhombohedral system has been obtained for all the compositions with no detectable secondary phase where the crystallite size ranges from 48.74 to 53.49 nm. The crystallite size decreases with increasing the copper amount. The grain size of oxides as determined from laser diffraction ranges from 0.213 to 0.307 micron, this result reveals that agglomerates are present in the suspension. Infrared spectroscopy shows a broad characteristic band of absorption observed around 581 cm^-1 was attributed to the BO (Co-O, Cu-O) stretching vibration.This band is characteristic of the perovskite structure ABO₃.