Low-temperature synthesis of BaTiO3 powders by the sol–gel-hydrothermal method

BaTiO3 powders were successfully prepared by a novel sol–gel-hydrothermal method using tetrabutyl titanate and barium acetate as the main raw materials. The phase composition and microstructure of the powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that BaTiO3 powders with well-developed crystallinity and good morphology could be synthesized at 120 °C (12 h) comparatively lower than the normal sol–gel route. The crystallinity and morphology were less affected by further increasing the reaction temperature and time. However, the KOH concentration had a great impact on the crystallinity and particles size of the powders that were all cubic phase with perovskite structure.