Synthesis, formation and characterization of ZnTiO3 ceramics

Zinc titanate (ZnTiO3) powders of perovskite structure were synthesized by conventional solid state reaction using metal oxides. Powders of ZnO and TiO2 in a molar ratio of 1:1 were mixed in a ball mill and then heated at temperatures from 700 to 1000 °C for various time periods in air. The crystallization temperature of ZnTiO3 powder was ∼820 °C, activation energy for crystallization was ∼327.14 kJ/mol and for grain growth was ∼48.84 kJ/mol. A transition point was observed when the electrical resistivity was measured versus temperature. Like some ferroelectric materials, a PTCR behavior above the transition temperature was observed with Curie temperature of ∼5 °C.