Solubility of lanthanum in strontium titanate in oxygen-rich atmospheres

Perovskite (ABO3)-type lanthanum substituted strontium titanate ceramics (lanthanum content x), which had been sintered in pure oxygen at 1400 °C, were investigated from x = 0 up to x = 0.6 by light optical and scanning electron microscopic means in conjunction with X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, and pyconometry in order to determine the mechanism being responsible for the compensation of the electronic excess charge resulting from the "donor" lanthanum. A pure strontium vacancy compensation mechanism was observed for lanthanum contents up to x = 0.3. Above x = 0.4 titanium vacancies occur additionally but their concentration remains negligible compared to the predominating strontium vacancies. No indication of a solubility limit of lanthanum at x = 0.4, as stated in former works was observed. At x = 0.5 and 0.6 the lattice structure was found to be slightly distorted, tetragonally and orthorhombically, respectively. The lattice parameter obeys Vegard’s law up to the end member La2/3□1/3TiO3 (□: vacant site). These results were completely confirmed by pycnometry data.