Synthesis, sintering and electrical properties of YNi0.33Mn0.67O3 perovskite prepared by a polymerized method

The YNi0.33Mn0.67O3 solid solution is a semiconducting material that shows perovskite-like structure, orthorhombic symmetry, and spatial group Pbnm. Their electrical and magnetic properties are typical of materials with potential applications in sensor systems or as cathodes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCʹs). Usually, the conventional method of mixing oxides used to obtain these materials requires high-temperature synthesis. By means of a polymerisation method (the Pechini method, slightly modified) we have obtained an amorphous, porous, and soft powder from which the YNi0.33Mn0.67O3 solid solution can be synthesized as a single phase. The powder is characterised by a nanometric particle size and a low-temperature synthesis within the interval 750–800 °C. The formation reaction has been studied by DTA/TG analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and infrared absorption technique (FTIR). Also, a comparison of the sintering process and the electrical behaviour is made between the samples prepared by the chemical and the mixing oxides methods.