Structural, electrical and electrochemical properties of co-precipitated SrFeO3-δ

The non-stoichiometric perovskite-type oxide SrFeO3-delta was prepared by Co-precipitation method using metal nitrate salts as cation precursors and NaOH solution as the precipitating agent. From the thermogravimetric analysis, the strontium orthoferrite phase formation was found to be complete at 550 degreesC. The XRD spectra showed the synthesized compound to be of orthorhombic structure. The FTIR spectra confirm the characteristic peaks of SrFeO3-delta Stretching and bending vibrations. The submicron size of the synthesized compound was showed by scanning electron microscope. The physical properties such as density, porosity and hardness were also carried out. The DC electrical conductivity measurements gave the maximum value of 84 S cm(-1) for the 1000 degreesC sintered sample. The electrochemical behavior of the 800 and 1000 degreesC sintered SrFeO3-(delta) electrode was performed in alkaline KOH solution by potentiostatic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.