Barium zirconate titanate nanoparticles synthesized by the sonochemical method

A new route for preparing barium zirconate titanate nanoparticles (BaZr0.3Ti0.7O3 (BZT)) has been developed by ultrasonication of BaCl2·2H2O, ZrOCl2·8H2O and TiCl4 precursors in a high concentration of NaOH aqueous solution. The as-prepared powders were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) as cubic perovskite BZT. The phase formation was confirmed by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. The increase of NaOH concentration resulted in BZT powders with smaller particle size and less BaCO3 contamination. The microstructure of BZT powders prepared in 20 M NaOH examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed nanosized spherical morphology with the average particle sizes of 51±6 nm.