La2Ti6O15-CeTi21O38-PbTiO3 ceramics formed in gaseous penetration of La-Ce into PbTiO3 and their electric properties

The gaseous penetration of La-Ce into PbTiO₃ ceramics is reported. The compounds of La₂Ti₆O₁₅ and CeTi₂₁O₃₈ are formed and the new La₂Ti₆O₁₅-CeTi₂₁O₃₈-PbTiO₃ ceramics are prepared by the penetration of La and Ce in the gaseous state. The new ceramic materials have a significant change in electric properties. The room temperature resistivity decreases from 2.0×10¹⁰ to 0.248 Ω. m, and the grain resistance exhibits an obvious PTCR effect with the change of temperature. However, the grain boundary resistance decreases rapidly with increase in temperature. The change rule of the total resistance is similar to that of the grain boundary, and the PTCR effect disappears and the tendency of transition to a conductive body is manifest. The XPS analysis suggests that the particles that are Pb, Ti, La and Ce in La₂Ti₆O₁₅-CeTi₂₁O₃₈-PbTiO₃ ceramics all change their valence and lead to decreasing resistivity, and the bound energy peak values of elements in La₂Ti₆O₁₅-CeTi₂₁O₃₈-PbTiO₃ ceramics are also reported. The La₂Ti₆O₁₅-CeTi₂₁O₃₈-PbTiO₃ ceramics have a better thermal stability in high temperatures through TG-DTA analysis.