Heating-rate effect on the BaTiO3 formation by thermal decomposition of metal citrate polymeric precursors

Barium titanate nano-sized powders had been prepared by a slightly modified Pechini method. DTA/TG thermal analysis indicated that thermal decomposition of the precursor proceeds through four major step processes: (a) dehydration reaction, (b) combustion reactions, (c) intermediate phases formation, and (d) decarbonation of the intermediate to give BaTiO3. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy results indicated that, depending on the heating-rate, the BaTiO3 formation took place via a predominant solid-state reaction between nano-sized BaCO3 and amorphous TiO2 (TiO2−x) when crystallized by low heating-rate (1.5°C min−1). Although a small amount of a quasi-amorphous intermediate phase was also present. BaTiO3 crystallization by rapid heating-rate (5°C min−1) took place through a quasi-amorphous intermediate phase formation as the main rate-controlling factor for the crystallization process. Although room temperature XRD results seems to indicate the formation of pseudo-cubic BaTiO3 as the final reaction product, the Raman spectra indicated as more probable the formation of a mixture of an oxygen-deficient hexagonal and tetragonal BaTiO3 phases below 700°C. Above that temperature, the tetragonal BaTiO3 was the only phase present.