Electrical characterization of grain boundary decorated SrTiO3 ceramics

The intention of the present work was to investigate the influence of the grain size on the electrical properties of Mn decorated SrTiO3 ceramics. To obtain different average grain sizes the samples were prepared by variation of the following sintering conditions: form of the green bodies, heating/cooling ramps, sintering atmosphere, sintering time, and sintering temperature. The grain boundaries of the ceramics were decorated with Mn by diffusion from the ceramics surfaces. Impedance analysis techniques in the scope of time and frequency dependence were used for electrical characterization and accelerated life testing (ALT) measurements were performed to characterize the ageing behaviour. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.