Processing and Characterization of Carbonate-Free BaTiO3 Nanoscale Particles Obtained by a Rapid Ultrasound-Assisted Wet Chemical Approach

This work highlights an innovative one-step synthesis pathway for obtaining tailor-made carbonate-free BaTiO3 nanocrystals at low temperature. The work also tries to characterize the processing of the nanocrystals. Well-defined and stoichiometric BaTiO3 nanocrystals were prepared sonochemically at 323 K (50 degrees C) in only 45 minutes, which were rather easy to manipulate. The particle size distribution was rather narrow. The results indicated that the size of BaTiO3 nanocrystals can be tailored by changing the reactants concentration. The kinetic of BaTiO3 formation was more rapid for the precursor solutions with higher BaCl2 concentration. The particle size was also very sensitive to the Ba/Ti ratio of the precursor solution and ultrasonication conditions. The as-dried precipitates were generally composed of loose agglomerates resulting from the assembly of several BaTiO3 nanocrystals during drying stage of the preparation. This agglomeration can be potentially used for self-assembling of the obtained BaTiO3 nanocrystals in miniaturization of multilayer ceramic capacitors and for the development of other nano-devices organized by BaTiO3 nanocrystals. (C) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International 2015