The produced target was characterized in terms of final density,
grain size and electrical properties and no scale-up effect
was observed. Usually when micropowders are used, a delay in
densification occurs proportionally to their size. This effect was
not observed in targets produced with nanopowders,36 due to
their high sinterability. Higher reactivity associated to the superior
specific surface area of the INNOVNANO AZO powders,
acts as a driving force for sintering, leading to an increase of the
surface diffusion between the particles, favoring so the sintering
mechanisms at lower temperatures.42,43 The non-dependence of
target size on densification is an advantage for the production of
targets, since it is possible to achieve good target properties and
reproducibility at lower sintering temperatures, avoiding some
problems related with scale-up effect.