Ceramics International最新文献

{"title":"Flexible memory devices using Ti-Zn-Sb nanoscale thin film for nonvolatile data storage and wearable electronics","authors":"Bowen Fu ,&nbsp;Weihua Wu ,&nbsp;Pei Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhengquan Zhou ,&nbsp;Yu Li ,&nbsp;Kangle Yong ,&nbsp;Xiwen Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Memory devices serve as a fundamental and necessary element in inflexible electronics, which can achieve data storage, processing and radio frequency communication. Among various emerging memory technologies, phase change memory is currently one of the most competitive candidates for next-generation nonvolatile memory, which is primarily due to its extended cycle life, rapid read/write speed, and excellent scalability. This work focuses on the physical properties, crystallization mechanism and flexible application of nanocomposite Ti-doped Zn₁₅Sb₈₅ film from the experimental and theoretical perspective. The incorporation of Ti effectively reduces the grain size, thereby decreasing the elastic modulus and deformation resistance of the film. These improvements are crucial for maintaining stable physical properties of the film after undergoing bending tests up to 100 K times. Phase change memory based on Ti_0.01(Zn₁₅Sb₈₅)_0.99 was prepared by standard CMOS technology, and the SET/RESET operations between high resistance and low resistance can be achieved under an electrical pulse duration of 50 ns. Besides, first-principles calculations reveal that adding Ti can reduce the elastic modulus of Zn₁₅Sb₈₅ film, indicating increased mechanical strength. Moreover, differential charge-density analysis reveals that Ti forms strong bonds with Sb, enhancing the thermal stability of the films. Furthermore, the standardized skin sensitization and irritation tests confirm that the Ti-Zn-Sb material is biocompatible and does not induce sensitization. All the results proved that Ti-Zn-Sb materials have the great potential for the high-performance flexible memory application.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 21848-21857"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147872007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced piezoelectric performance in KNN-based ferroelectric ceramics through a synergistic strategy design","authors":"Yuwen Liu ,&nbsp;Chengwen Bin ,&nbsp;Cheng Sun ,&nbsp;Jiamin Lin ,&nbsp;Sheng Jiang ,&nbsp;Yuhui Huang ,&nbsp;Jie Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.366","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.366","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-performance lead-free piezoelectric ceramics are crucial for advancing sustainable technologies. Among them, (K,Na)NbO₃ (KNN)-based ceramics are considered the most promising alternative to lead-based piezoceramics. However, their insufficient piezoelectric performance and reduced density have hindered practical applications and further development. In this study, the (K,Na)NbO₃-based ceramics with enhanced piezoelectric properties were prepared through the synergistic strategy combining phase-boundary engineering, domain refinement and density enhancement. Based on the (1-<em>x</em>)(K_0.48Na_0.52)(Nb_0.95Sb_0.05)O₃–<em>x</em>(Li_0.5Bi_0.5)ZrO₃–0.2%Fe₂O₃ material system, an optimal composition was achieved at <em>x</em> = 0.03, exhibiting a high piezoelectric coefficient (<em>d</em>₃₃) ∼ 393 pC/N, a large inverse piezoelectric coefficient (<span><math><mrow><msubsup><mi>d</mi><mrow><mn>33</mn></mrow><mi>∗</mi></msubsup></mrow></math></span>) ∼ 926 pm/V, a high Curie temperature (<em>T</em>_c) ∼ 295 °C and a relative density of ∼99%. The results show that a rhombohedral–orthorhombic–tetragonal polymorphic phase boundary formed within 0.02 ≤ <em>x</em> ≤ 0.05, accompanied by refined domains that contribute to enhanced electrical characteristics. The emergence of such refined domains is attributed to heterovalent and size-mismatched ion substitution, which disrupted long-range ferroelectric ordering. Furthermore, the incorporation of Fe₂O₃ promotes liquid-phase formation, reduces grain-boundary voids, and facilitate densification. This study provides an effective strategy for developing (K,Na)NbO₃-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with competitive and reliable properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 23107-23117"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147871968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Defect engineering of an A-site high-entropy perovskite cathode for protonic ceramic fuel cells","authors":"Hao Wang ,&nbsp;Cheng Gong ,&nbsp;Lei Gao ,&nbsp;Song Liu ,&nbsp;Wentuan Bi","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics at the cathode remains a key bottleneck limiting the performance of protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) at intermediate temperatures. Herein, an A-site high-entropy perovskite (Pr_0.2La_0.2Ca_0.2Ba_0.2Sr_0.2)CoO_3-δ (PLCBSC) is synthesized, and liquid-nitrogen quenching is employed as a defect-engineering strategy. Structural and microstructural characterizations reveal that the quenching treatment refines the grain size, introduces lattice defects, and enriches oxygen vacancies within the perovskite lattice. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and distribution of relaxation time analyses of symmetric cells demonstrate that these defect features accelerate key ORR processes, including charge transfer, oxygen-ion migration, and gas diffusion. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of A-site high-entropy structural stabilization and quenching-induced defect enrichment, the quenched cathode achieves a peak power density of 994.2 mW cm⁻² at 700 °C with an open-circuit voltage of 1.02 V, far outperforming the unquenched counterpart (588.9 mW cm⁻², 0.92 V). Moreover, the cell retains 92.2% of its initial voltage after 100 h of operation. This work provides an effective strategy for enhancing both the catalytic activity and structural stability of perovskite-based cathodes for PCFCs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 22285-22291"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147872016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Symmetrically-layered Nb(NbC)/Fe composites: Achieving concurrent strength-ductility synergy via architecture design","authors":"Chengxuan Zhou ,&nbsp;Nana Zhao ,&nbsp;Zehao Zhang ,&nbsp;Silin Chen ,&nbsp;Jungang Yang ,&nbsp;Zhen Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In order to improve the problem of inversion of the strength of traditional ceramic particle-reinforced iron matrix composites, the Nb(NbC)/Fe layered iron matrix composites were prepared by in-situ hot pressing sintering using ductile iron and niobium foil as raw materials. When the iron-niobium layer thickness ratio is 10:3, the size of the NbC particles generated in situ changes from 360 nm to 480 nm, the volume index gradient, and the compressive strength and fracture strain are 139% and 162% of the matrix, respectively. The compressive strength and fracture strain along the x-axis are 208% and 167% of the matrix, and the tensile strength and strain are 169% and 162% of the matrix, respectively. The main strengthening mechanisms are the second-phase strengthening from in-situ formed NbC particles and grain refinement within the adjacent α-Fe matrix. Concurrently, the material's toughness is enhanced through multiple mechanisms: main crack separation (delamination), crack deflection due to the alternation of soft and hard phases, and microcrack bridging. This synergistic effect results in the simultaneous improvement of strength and toughness in the iron matrix composites, providing theoretical support and technical guidance for fabricating composites with superior comprehensive performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 23322-23331"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147872030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Significantly enhanced energy storage and temperature stability in NKBT-based ceramics via high-entropy and bandgap engineering","authors":"Yu Han ,&nbsp;Yongping Pu ,&nbsp;Jinbo Zhang ,&nbsp;Yiting Hui ,&nbsp;Jiachen Li ,&nbsp;Pengfan Lv ,&nbsp;Yile Yang ,&nbsp;Lei Zhang ,&nbsp;Bo Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.372","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.372","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The advancement of pulsed power technology, with its pressing demand for miniaturization and integration, necessitates the development of lead-free dielectrics that exhibit synergistically enhanced energy storage performance (<em>ESP</em>) and stability. In this study, a high-entropy ceramic system was established by doping Ca_0.85Nd_0.1Hf_0.2Zr_0.2Mg_0.2Nb_0.4O₃ into a Na_0.41K_0.09Bi_0.5TiO₃ matrix, a material known for its high polarization. The substantial increase in configurational entropy (Δ<em>S</em>_config from 0.9<em>R</em> to 2.1<em>R</em>) disrupts the long-range ferroelectric order, leading to slimmer polarization-electric field (<em>P-E</em>) loops and enhanced efficiency. Concurrently, the introduction of diverse high-insulation oxides synergistically refines grains and widens the energy bandgap, drastically suppressing interfacial polarization. These effects collectively elevate the breakdown strength (<em>E</em>_b) to 400 kV/cm, representing a 4-fold increase over the unmodified matrix. The resulting ceramics exhibit a 3.87-fold increase in recoverable energy density (<em>W</em>_rec = 3.83 J/cm³) and a 2.08-fold improvement in efficiency (<em>η</em> = 86%). Remarkably, the ceramics demonstrate outstanding dielectric temperature stability (ΔC/C_25°C ≤ ±15%) across an ultra-broad range of 56 to 500 °C. This work systematically validates high-entropy and bandgap engineering as a potent strategy for developing comprehensive performance ceramic capacitors for advanced energy storage applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 23187-23196"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147872020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Ni/Co ratio and Mo2C on microstructure, mechanical performance, and oxidation behavior in NbC-based cermets","authors":"Xi Liu ,&nbsp;Jian Lv ,&nbsp;Yingbiao Peng ,&nbsp;Jianzhan Long ,&nbsp;Yiqi Guan ,&nbsp;Yanming Cui ,&nbsp;Xiang Cheng ,&nbsp;Rao Luo ,&nbsp;Yong Du","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.299","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combined influence of binder chemistry (Ni/Co ratio) and Mo₂C addition on the microstructure evolution, mechanical properties, oxidation behavior, and wear performance of NbC-20 wt% (Ni-Co) cermets was systematically investigated. Thermodynamic calculations based on assessed thermodynamic databases were employed to assist in composition selection within the optimal two-phase sintering window. Partial substitution of Ni by Co exhibits a non-monotonic effect on NbC grain growth behavior, with grain coarsening suppressed at moderate Co contents while promoted at higher levels. Mo₂C addition further inhibits NbC grain grain, with its effectiveness correlating with Mo dissolution tendency at NbC/binder interfaces revealed by EPMA mapping analysis, enabling the NbC-5Ni-15Co-10Mo (wt.%) cermet to attain the highest hardness (1246.7 <span><math><mrow><mo>±</mo></mrow></math></span> 12.1 kg/mm²) without sacrificing fracture toughness. All cermets display approximately linear oxidation kinetics at 700 °C over the investigated duration, while Mo₂C incorporation is accompanied by reduced oxidation resistance, likely linked to the formation and volatilization of Mo-containing oxides. Wear analyses indicate that oxidative wear plays a dominant role under the tested conditions, in line with the observed friction behavior. The NbC-10Ni-10Co-10Mo (wt.%) cermet delivers the lowest wear rate (over 28 times lower than the other counterparts), being consistent with its high hardness and the formation of oxidation-assisted surface films (tribofilms) during sliding. These findings offer experimental insights into the processing-structure-property relationships of NbC-based cermets, informing their compositional optimization for wear-resistant applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 22337-22350"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147872087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Flexible SiC nanofiber films decorated with MOF-derived nanoparticles for lightweight and high-efficiency electromagnetic wave absorption","authors":"Wei Shang ,&nbsp;Changgeng Li ,&nbsp;Jiangli Wu ,&nbsp;Shunxing Wan ,&nbsp;Yunjun Ruan ,&nbsp;Xiu-Zhi Tang ,&nbsp;Tong Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Driven by the increasing demands of flexible electronic devices operating in complex electromagnetic environments, the development of lightweight microwave absorbing materials with integrated flexibility, efficient absorption, and thermal stability is of great significance. Herein, a flexible silicon carbide nanofiber film (SZF) decorated with ZIF-8-derived nanoparticles is fabricated through electrospinning followed by high-temperature carbonization. Benefiting from the high aspect ratio and three-dimensional interconnected network of SiC nanofibers, the deformation stress can be effectively dissipated through fiber bending and sliding, endowing SZF with moderate mechanical flexibility. The 3D porous architecture enables incident electromagnetic waves to penetrate deeply into the SiC-based composite network, thereby promoting multiple scattering and reflection effects. Through a metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived strategy, abundant heterogeneous interfaces are introduced within the fibers, coupling the metal modification effect derived from ZIF-8 with the intrinsic dielectric properties and thermal stability of SiC. The ZIF-8-derived nanoparticles exhibit dimensions comparable to those of SiC nanofibers and are uniformly dispersed throughout the SiC matrix, reinforcing interfacial bonding and facilitating charge transport as well as multiple polarization relaxations. These synergistic effects optimize impedance matching and enhance electromagnetic attenuation through increased interfacial polarization and dielectric loss. Consequently, SZF demonstrates strong microwave absorption performance, achieving a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −56.29 dB at 12.58 GHz and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.38 GHz at a thickness of 2.5 mm. This study offers a viable strategy for designing lightweight materials that simultaneously feature flexibility, thermal robustness, and high-efficiency microwave absorption, holding great promise for advanced flexible electromagnetic protection systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 21233-21245"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147871540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of dysprosium doping on structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of Li0.5Fe2.5-xDyxO4 (x=0, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12)","authors":"T. Sai Santoshi ,&nbsp;Y. Kalyanalakshmi ,&nbsp;S. Bharadwaj ,&nbsp;M. Chaitanya Varma ,&nbsp;G.S.V.R.K. Choudary ,&nbsp;Manish Chandra Joshi ,&nbsp;Ranjith Ramadurai","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dysprosium doped Lithium Ferrite with compositional formula Li_0.5Fe_2.5-xDy_xO₄ for x = 0, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.12 compounds were synthesized using PVA based sol-gel method and sintered at 800 °C. The presence of ferrite phase was studied from X-ray analysis and Rietveld refinement confirmed cubic structure (P4₃32 space group) along with the presence of DyFeO₃ as a secondary phase possessing orthorhombic structure (Pnma space group) which vary from 3% to 8%. The presence of metal-oxygen bonds was confirmed from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy while the oxidation states of the elements present were confirmed from X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. Saturation magnetization increased from 30.70 emu/g (x = 0) to 51.14 emu/g (x = 0.04) whereas coercivity decreased from 53.89 Oe (x = 0) to 48.71 Oe (x = 0.04) for dysprosium concentration in lithium ferrite. The changes in magnetic parameters were attributed to varying trends in grain size and cation distribution at octahedral sites with dysprosium levels in lithium ferrite. Further, the exchange interactions between ferrite and DyFeO₃ phase also contribute to the magnetic behaviour of the present system. Low dielectric value obtained for x = 0.04 at 1 MHz could be a better composition in tuning absorption devices for microwave applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 22513-22522"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147871544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phase transition regulation and concurrent ferroelectric and magnetic improvement in BiFeO3 via rare-earth multi-substitution strategy","authors":"Xihao Wang ,&nbsp;Lihong Bai ,&nbsp;Mengru Ge ,&nbsp;Pengyu Wang ,&nbsp;Juan Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To investigate the synergistic effects of multi-element rare-earth doping in BiFeO₃ ceramics, this study prepared a series of co-doped samples. A comparative analysis was conducted, focusing on the differences in crystal structure, microstructure, and multiferroic properties between the co-doped samples and their singly-doped counterparts. Structural analysis confirms that the concentration and ionic radius of the rare-earth dopants are critical factors inducing the transition of the primary phase from rhombohedral <em>R</em>3<em>c</em> to orthorhombic <em>Pna</em>2₁, a process often accompanied by multi-phase coexistence. Specifically, a smaller rare-earth ionic radius (Sm-doped BiFeO₃) leads to a superior magnetic properties, where remanent magnetization <em>M</em>_r = 74.5 emu/mol, but poorer ferroelectric performance, with the remanent polarization <em>P</em>_r = 4.41 μC/cm². In contrast, a larger ionic radius (La-doped BiFeO₃) enhances the ferroelectric properties (<em>P</em>_r = 38.08 μC/cm²), although the magnetic performance remains suboptimal (<em>M</em>_r = 20.45 emu/mol). Specifically, the multi-doped Bi_0.82(La_1/3Nd_1/3Sm_1/3)_0.18FeO₃ (LNS018) ceramic achieved a remarkable remanent polarization (<em>P</em>_r) of 40.90 μC/cm² under 170 kV/cm, which is superior to its single-doped counterparts. Concurrently, its remanent magnetization (<em>M</em>_r) reached 39.8 emu/mol. This superior performance is attributed to the construction of a morphotropic phase boundary between the <em>R</em>3<em>c</em> and <em>Pna</em>2₁ phases, which was effectively tailored by the multi-substitution strategy. Compared to single rare-earth substitution, co-doping induces greater lattice distortion and more refined domain structures, contributing to the enhanced multiferroic performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 22523-22535"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147871546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Band gap engineering in proton-conducting BaSn1–xInxO3–δ perovskites: Interplay of doping, hydration, and hydrogenation","authors":"Maxim I. Vlasov ,&nbsp;Egor I. Kovalev ,&nbsp;Mariam T. Akopian ,&nbsp;Dmitry A. Medvedev ,&nbsp;Ilya A. Weinstein","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Barium stannate BaSnO₃ is a semiconducting oxide with cubic perovskite structure. It is capable for different types of doping, both in Ba and Sn sites, both by acceptor and donor dopants, allowing efficiently tuning its properties. Thus, BaSnO₃ finds numerous applications, and its usage as a proton conducting ceramic electrolytes is one of them. Recently, it was reported that In-doped BaSn_1–xIn_xO_3–δ shows outstanding properties, like ability to form wide range of solid solutions up to x = 0.65, good chemical stability and high proton conductivity. However, this material lacks data on its band gap parameters, but given the semiconducting nature of barium stannate these data is crucial for comprehensive understanding of its functional properties. Therefore, this work is aimed at elucidating changes in the band gap parameters of BaSn_1–xIn_xO_3–δ promoted by doping and proton incorporation by hydration and hydrogenation. The results obtained indicate on systematic decrease of the band gap E_g with In concentration, from 3.04 eV at x = 0 to 2.76 eV at x = 0.6, which is suggested to be due to replacement of the Sn 5s states by In 5s. Besides, there is transformation of the absorption edge shape at x &gt; 0.4 arising from substantial oxygen non-stoichiometry. Hydration leads to increase of E_g, and the higher the x, the greater the E_g change. However, that nature of this effect is not yet clear. Simultaneously, as oxygen sublattice becomes complete, the absorption edge shape restores to initial state. Effect of hydrogenation is more complex, leading to strong local tetragonal/orthorhombic distortions at x ≤ 0.2 and even phase decomposition at x ≥ 0.4. All this behavior of In-doped BaSnO₃ diverges from typical trends observed in classical wide-gap proton conductors, such as doped LaScO₃, BaZrO₃, SrTiO₃, and SrZrO₃, thus, requiring a special attention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 13","pages":"Pages 22536-22543"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147871547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}