Effect of sintering time on the chemical and electrical features of the grain boundary of the semiconducting SrTiO3 ceramics synthesized from surface-coated powders

SrTiO3 ceramics were synthesized by hot-press sintering Na-coated semiconducting SrTiO3 powders. The chemical and electrical characteristics of the grain boundary of the ceramics were investigated, and their relations were discussed in terms of process parameters such as sintering time. A systematic variation in the electrical characteristics of the grain boundary with process parameters was observed; it indicates that this synthesis method can be used for fine control over the chemical and electrical properties of the semiconducting ceramics. # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved