Synthesis, structural and dielectric properties of Li-doped BaTiO3 nanopowders by sol-gel method

Li-doped BaTiO3 nanoparticles with Li+ mole fraction, x, such as 0 <= x <= 0.30 (BLxT) have been successfully synthesized by the sol-gel method and their structure examined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The latter showed that these materials, heat treated at 1000 degrees C during 4hrs; crystallize in the pure tetragonal phase for the undoped sample (BT), which transforms into pseudo-cubic phase for x >= 0.05. These results were confirmed by Raman analysis. The thermal behavior of the permittivity and the conductivity was studied and in particular the thermal behavior of the latter revealed the PTCR effect.