Fabrication, structure, and physical properties of three-B-site perovskite Ba(Zr1–2xTixCex)O3

In this study, three-B-site perovskite Ba(Zr1–2xTixCex)O3 (x=0–0.2) materials with the co-substitution of Ti4+ and Ce4+ at the Zr-site of barium zirconate (BaZrO3) were successfully prepared. The analyses of XRD & Rietveld method, SEM, and TEM indicated that the substituted ions Ti4+ and Ce4+ entered the BaZrO3 lattice to form a single-phase solid solution, showing a conventional primitive cubic perovskite structure (Pm-3 m space group), and its lattice parameters gradually increased from 0.4192 nm to 0.4206 nm with x value. The sample with x=0.1 exhibited relatively optimal structural uniformity and densification, as well as comprehensive physical properties. The sample Ba(Zr0.8Ti0.1Ce0.1)O3 showed a minimum mean grain size of 1.50 μm. And due to the combined effect of solid solution formation and grain refinement, it displayed an apparent porosity of 1.42 % with a cold modulus of rupture (CMOR) of 123.8 MPa, and a thermal conductivity at ambient temperature of 2.197 W/mK. Furthermore, this three-B-site perovskite Ba(Zr1–2xTixCex)O3 exhibits excellent high-temperature stability. This study demonstrates the promising application of the dense, high-strength, and low-thermal conductivity Ba(Zr0.8Ti0.1Ce0.1)O3 perovskite material in the field of advanced refractory ceramics. •A three-B-site perovskite Ba(Zr1–2xTixCex)O3 (x=0–0.2) were prepared via high-temperature solid-state method.•The analyses indicated the formation of a solid solution, showing a conventional primitive cubic perovskite structure.•Sample Ba(Zr0.8Ti0.1Ce0.1)O3 displayed an apparent porosity of 1.42 % with a cold modulus of rupture of 123.8 MPa, and a thermal conductivity at ambient temperature of 2.197 W/mK.