Nanocrystalline BaTiO3 powder via a sol process ambient conditions

Nanocrystalline BaTiO3 particles have been prepared by ambient condition sol (ACS) process starting from soluble precursors of barium and titanium yielding a mixed oxide/hydroxide gel. The gel was peptized and crystallized in water under a refluxing condition. Higher initial pH and Ba/Ti ratio led to smaller crystallite sizes of BaTiO3 powders. Organic mineralizer, tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), can adsorb on the BaTiO3 nuclei and inhibited further growth of the particles. Adding a polymer during BaTiO3 synthesis led to a smaller particle size and increased redispersibility of the particles in water.