Influence of Ca content and oxygen partial pressure on microstructural evolution of (Co,Ca)O at elevated temperatures.
Ca-doped (1, 1.7, 5 and 10 mol% CaO) cobalt oxide single-crystal samples, with an [001] orientation, were annealed at elevated temperatures of 1000-1200 degrees C for different times and at different oxygen partial pressures. The microstructure was examined by means of transmission light and electron microscopy. High-temperature X-ray diffractometry was used, with the aim of determining the temperature of the CoO <--> Co(3)O(4) transition in these materials. Extensive precipitation of Ca-free Co(3)O(4) spinel crystals was observed with increasing Ca content and oxygen activity. It is suggested that the electrical conductivity changes in this material may be related to this precipitation, because it changes the electronic state of cobalt cations.
Kusinski
J
J
AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Ave., 30059 Krakow, Poland. kusinski@metal.agh.edu.pl
Cieniek
L
L
Petot-Ervas
G
G
Petot
C
C
Baldinozzi
G
G