Hydroxide precursors to produce nanometric YCrO 3: Characterization and conductivity analysis

A precursor to produce perovskite-type YCrO 3 was precipitated by bubbling gaseous ammonia into an yttrium/chromium salts solution. X-ray diffraction showed that the as-prepared powders were amorphous. Thermal treatment between 1273 and 1373 K, leads to formation of polycrystalline YCrO 3 with crystal sizes around 20 nm. High resolution X-ray photoelectron spectra showed uniform chemical environment for yttrium and chromium in the amorphous hydroxide and crystalline YCrO 3. Shifts between Y 3d 5/2 and Cr 2p 3/2 binding energy suggest redistribution or charge transfer between yttrium and chromium ions in the YCrO 3 structure. The electrical properties of YCrO 3, whose precursors were precipitated with gaseous ammonia are different than those prepared by combustion synthesis. Electrical conductivity presents a sudden increase at ∼473 K, which is associated to the grain size and morphology of the crystallites. The redistribution of charge between Y(III) and Cr(III) is thermally activated by the hopping of small-polarons, which are characterized by the Arrhenius law as the conductive mechanism. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved