Production and characterization of doped zinc stannate through solid-state synthesis

In this study, zinc stannate (Zn₂SnO₄) powder is synthesized by mixing commercial ZnO and SnO₂ powders at stoichiometric ratio with solid-state method. Process parameters such as mixing duration, synthesis duration, and the effects of the temperature on Zn₂SnO₄ phase formation have been analyzed. Given the stated conditions, zinc stannate powder is synthesized during the 12-hour long granulation process after Calcination at 1100℃ and 10℃/min speed in 2 hour duration in optimum conditions. In our study, Zn₂SnO₄ sintering behavior is approached multilaterally. Sintering behaviors of Zn2SnO4 powder which was synthesized in optimum conditions have been analyzed. Sintering behaviors of the ZTO powder which was calcinated after 12 hour long granulation were shown to be better, also the highest density values for Zn2SnO4 which has been calcinated at 1000℃ and 1100℃ and sintered at 1200℃ were shown to be 90.7% and 90,8% respectively. However, calcination at 1100℃ and sintering at 1200℃ was determined to be optimal for Zn₂SnO₄ since during XRD analysis and SEM analysis SnO₂ and ZnO phase residues were detected at 1000℃. Also, Zn2SnO4 powder was doped with Al. Al₂O₃ powder was added to the structure at 1.1125%, 2.2250%, 3.3375% ratio by mole. Sintering behaviors of doped Zn₂SnO₄ powder were also analyzed. In XRD graphics of the samples, it has been shown that after the sintering process, single-phased Zn₂SnO₄ were synthesized. Archimedes experiment results have shown that Al₂O₃ doping is not effective on Zn₂SnO₄ concentration. Keywords: Zn₂SnO₄, solid-state, Sintering, Al₂O₃.