Decomposition of TiO2, CuO and CaCO3 for CaCu3Ti4O12 Formation through Solid State Reaction.

Synthesis of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) through solid state reaction route is a common method used by researchers and industries because this technique offers easier of handlings and only a few parameters involved to obtain single phase of CCTO. More investigations on solid state reaction route can keep optimized this route by considering all synthesis stages started from the raw materials. It is important to identify the formation of phases and morphologies each of process stages to understand factors involved for their changes. The raw powders, TiO₂, CuO and CaCO₃ had undergone mixing process to produce homogenous mixture, decompose at different calcination temperature and also combination of calcination and sintering altogether. Analyses had conducted to study the crystallinities and microstructures of the powders and pellet samples. FESEM micrographs show that the grains formed at different sized each of the stages and XRD analyses have identified the raw powders of CCTO have decomposed and reacted differently when heat treated from 900°C to 1040°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]