Submicron barium calcium zirconium titanate ceramic for energy storage synthesised via the co-precipitation method

Monodisperse submicron barium calcium zirconium titanate [(Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O-3] powders with homogeneous spherical microstructure were synthesised via the co-precipitation method. The (Ba + Ca)/ (Zr + Ti) molar ratio and concentrations of reactants and NaOH used in the synthesis process were adjusted to obtain a single phase. Thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopies and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyse the phase formation temperature, crystalline structure and reaction mechanism of (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O-3 formation at room temperature. The results suggested that the pure perovskite phase formation temperature was approximately 900-950 degrees C, which is considerably lower than that of BCZT powders synthesised using the conventional solid-state reaction (1250 degrees C). The dense phase-pure ceramics synthesised at 1320 degrees C displayed high recoverable energy storage performance (0.25 J/cm(3)) and breakthrough field (100 kV/cm). This work provides a new strategy to lower the synthesis temperature and improve the electrical properties of perovskites as well as revealing a possible formation mechanism.