Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of grain boundaries for abnormal grain growth in polycrystalline SrTiO3

  • Article
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) is widely used in electronic devices, and it is a model material for understanding the structural and dielectric properties of grain boundaries (GBs). In such materials, the GBs often play a dominant role in sintering and microstructural behavior. Abnormal grain growth (AGG) is a commonly observed phenomenon. Most studies explained that GBs contain continuous liquid films, and this liquid assists interface diffusion resulting in fast growth. However, few studies investigate the AGG behavior without any liquid. In this study, GB morphology and chemistry have been characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and x-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry, respectively. Different distributions of GB morphology have been observed in abnormal grains and matrix grains, and GB chemistry varies with different morphological type GBs. By correlating GB morphology and chemistry, a possible mechanism for AGG is proposed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. T. Takahash, H. Iwahara Ionic conduction in perovskite-type oxide solid solution and its application to solid electrolyte fuel cell. Energy Convers. 11, 105 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. N.Q. Minh Ceramic fuel-cells. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 76, 563 (1993)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. H. Shen, Y.W. Song, H. Gu, P.C. Wang, Y.M. Xi A high-permittivity SrTiO3-based grain boundary barrier layer capacitor material single-fired under low temperature. Mater. Lett. 56, 802 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. H.Y. Chang, S.Y. Cheng, C.I. Sheu, Y.H. Wang Core-shell structure of strontium titanate self-grown by a hydrothermal process for use in grain boundary barrier layers. Nanotechnology 14, 603 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. M. Fujimoto, Y.M. Chiang, A. Roshko, W.D. Kingery Microstructure and electrical-properties of sodium-diffused and potassium-diffused SrTiO3 barrier-layer capacitors exhibiting varistor behavior. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 68, C300 (1985)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. S.Y. Chung, B.K. Lee, S.J.L. Kang Core-shell structure formation in Nb2O5-doped SrTiO3 by oxygen partial pressure change. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 81, 3016 (1998)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. G. Arlt, D. Hennings, G. Dewith Dielectric-properties of fine-grained barium-titanate ceramics. J. Appl. Phys. 58, 1619 (1985)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. C.J. Peng, Y.M. Chiang Grain-growth in donor-doped SrTiO3. J. Mater. Res. 5, 1237 (1990)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. C. Bae, J.G. Park, Y.H. Kim, H. Jeon Abnormal grain growth of niobium-doped strontium titanate ceramics. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 81, 3005 (1998)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. S.Y. Chung, S.J.L. Kang Intergranular amorphous films and dislocations-promoted grain growth in SrTiO3. Acta Mater. 51, 2345 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. S.J. Shih, C.M. Bishop, D.J.H. Cockayne Distribution of S3 misorientations in polycrystalline strontium titanate. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 29, 3023 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. S.J. Dillon, M. Tang, W.C. Carter, M.P. Harmer Complexion: A new concept for kinetic engineering in materials science. Acta Mater. 55, 6208 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. S.Y. Chung, S.J.L. Kang, V.P. Dravid Effect of sintering atmosphere on grain boundary segregation and grain growth in niobium-doped SrTiO3. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 85, 2805 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. S.B. Lee, W. Sigle, RüM. hle Faceting behavior of an asymmetric SrTiO3 S5 001 tilt grain boundary close to its defaceting transition. Acta Mater. 51, 4583 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. S.Y. Choi, S.J.L. Kang Sintering kinetics by structural transition at grain boundaries in barium titanate. Acta Mater. 52, 2937 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. W. Jo, D.Y. Kim, N.M. Hwang Effect of interface structure on the microstructural evolution of ceramics. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 89, 2369 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. N.H. Chan, R.K. Sharma, D.M. Smyth Non-stoichiometry in SrTiO3. J. Electrochem. Soc. 128, 1762 (1981)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. S. Witek, D.M. Smyth, H. Pickup Variability of the Sr/Ti ratio in SrTiO3. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 67, 372 (1984)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. J.W. Cahn The impurity-drag effect in grain boundary motion. Acta Metall. 10, 789 (1962)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. M. Bäurer, H. Kungl, M.J. Hoffmann Influence of Sr/Ti stoichiometry on the densification behavior of strontium titanate. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 92, 601 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. S.J. Shih Nanometre-scaled structural studies of strontium titanate by electron microscopy and microanalysis.Ph.D. Thesis, Oxford University 2009

    Google Scholar 

  22. D.M. Saylor, El B. Dasher, T. Sano, G.S. Rohrer Distribution of grain boundaries in SrTiO3 as a function of five macroscopic parameters. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 87, 670 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. J.E. Blendell, W.C. Carter, C.A. Handwerker Faceting and wetting transitions of anisotropic interfaces and grain boundaries. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 82, 1889 (1999)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. D.Y. Yoon, Y.K. Cho Roughening transition of grain boundaries in metals and oxides. J. Mater. Sci. 40, 861 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. D. Wolf Correlation between structure, energy, and ideal cleavage fracture for symmetrical grain-boundaries in Fcc metals. J. Mater. Res. 5, 1708 (1990)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. M. Bäurer, S.J. Shih, C.M. Bishop, M.P. Harmer, D.J.H. Cockayne, M.J. Hoffmann Abnormal grain growth in undoped strontium titanate. Acta Mater. 58, 290 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. M. Bäurer, D. Weygand, P. Gumbsch, M.J. Hoffmann Grain growth anomaly in strontium titanate. Scr. Mater. 61, 584 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. R. Waser, R. Hagenbeck Grain boundaries in dielectric and mixed-conducting ceramics. Acta Mater. 48, 797 (2000)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. S. Hutt, S. Kostlmeier, C. Elsasser Density functional study of the S3 (111) [11?0] symmetrical tilt grain boundary in SrTiO3. J. Phys. Condens. Matter 13, 3949 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PH, UK

    Shao-Ju Shih, Sergio Lozano-Perez & David J. H. Cockayne

Authors
  1. Shao-Ju Shih
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sergio Lozano-Perez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David J. H. Cockayne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David J. H. Cockayne.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shih, SJ., Lozano-Perez, S. & Cockayne, D.J.H. Investigation of grain boundaries for abnormal grain growth in polycrystalline SrTiO3. Journal of Materials Research 25, 260–265 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2010.0046

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2010.0046

Search

Navigation