Synthesis, structure and dielectric properties of Ba1-xSrxMyTi1-yO3 (M = Zr, Sn)

A series of Ba_1-xSr_xM_yTi_1-yO₃ (M = Zr, Sn, 0?x?0.4, 0?y?0.3) solid solutions were synthesized with the soft chemical method below 100 °C. XRD pattern and cell parameters-composition figures of the prepared powder demonstrate that they are completely miscible solid solutions based on BaTiO₃. Furthermore, TEM shows that they have a shape of uniform, substantially spherical particles with an average particle size of 70 nm in diameter. The sintered ceramics of the powder doped with Sr²+and Zr⁴⁺ or Sn⁴⁺ have dielectric constant eight times higher and dielectric loss thirty per cent lower than those of pure BaTiO₃ phase at room temperature.