Structural, optical and microwave dielectric properties of Ba1-xSrxWO4 ceramics prepared by solid state reaction route

In this paper, Barium Strontium Tungstate (Ba1-xSrx)WO4 crystals with (x = 0; 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 and 1.0) were prepared by standard wet milling ceramic preparation method. These crystals were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic techniques. The shape, growth and average crystal size distribution of these crystals were investigated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Their optical properties were investigated by ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) absorption and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD patterns, Rietveld refinements data, FT-Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies indicate that all the crystals present a scheelite-type tetragonal structure without deleterious phases. FT-Raman spectra exhibited 6 Raman active modes in range from 100 to 1000 cm(-1), while the FT-IR spectra presented 2 infrared active modes in range from 500 to 1000 cm(-1). SEM micrographs showed well sintered BaWO4 grains, while the substitution of Sr induced modifications in the shape and reduction in the grain size. UV-vis absorption measurements evidenced an increase in the values of the optical band gap (from 4.36 to 4.53 eV) with the increase of Sr into BaWO4 lattice. Dielectric constant, temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (tau(f)), quality factors were measured with Hakki-Coleman technique. The value of tau(f) found -43.68 ppm/degrees C for BaWO4 which increased to -21.40 ppm/degrees C for the SrWO4. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.