Combustion-synthesis of SrTiO3 Part I. synthesis and properties of the ignition products

Nanosized powders of SrTiO3 have been prepared via combustion synthesis. Aqueous solutions of the metal nitrates and differing amounts of EDTE as reducing and NH4NO3 as oxidizing reactant were evaporated and the resulting solid mixtures were ignited at different temperatures. As determined form XRD, the products exhibit crystallite sizes up to 42 nm with high microstress values resulting from the short reaction time. Crystallite size distributions were mostly very broad and could not be described by a single log-normal function, these results were confirmed by TEM images. The properties of the products could be explained as depending on the composition of the educt mixtures and the ignition temperatures.