%0 Journal Article
%A Bernardo, M. S.
%A Jardiel, T.
%A Caballero, A.
%A Bram, Martin
%A Gonzalez, Jesus
%A Peiteado, M.
%T Electric current activated sintering (ECAS) of undoped and titanium-doped BiFeO3 bulk ceramics with homogeneous microstructure
%J Journal of the European Ceramic Society
%V 39
%N 6
%@ 0955-2219
%C Amsterdam [u.a.]
%I Elsevier Science
%M FZJ-2019-02563
%P 2042 - 2049
%D 2019
%X BiFeO3 ceramics have been consolidated applying an electric current activated/assisted sintering (ECAS) methodology under different electrical conditions. DC experiments produce a flash sintering regime by which the bulk cylindrical specimens densify in a few seconds; however, this goes together with a strong localization of the current flow within the material, leading to a dramatic lack of microstructural and compositional homogeneity. The situation changes under the alternate field; a more gradual FAST (Field Assisted Sintering) event is produced which allows the attainment of an exceptional microstructural homogeneity through the whole sintered compacts. Upon Ti-doping the overall diffusivity of the system is delayed but the AC conditions again yield a remarkable microstructural homogeneity in the consolidated material, this time even at the nanoscale level. Accordingly, bulk BiFeO3 ceramics with homogeneous micro-nanostructure can be successfully prepared by an ECAS methodology and at lower temperatures and much shorter times than by conventional solid-state sintering.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000461530100013
%R 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2019.01.045
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/862220