Mechanochemical preparation of BaTiO3–Ni nanocomposites with high dielectric constant

A mechanochemical procedure is proposed for an easy preparation of a BaTiO3–Ni composite in a single step. BaTiO3 and Ni powders available in the market are mixed by dry ball milling producing a decrease of particle size and an evenly distribution of both phases. In the sintered pellets the nickel particles are homogeneously distributed into the BaTiO3 matrix and isolated from others Ni particles. The dielectric constant of the composite is considerably higher than that of the barium titanate. Moreover, the temperature of the ferroelectric ↔ paraelectric transition of the BaTiO3–Ni composite here prepared is much lower than the one of the pure BaTiO3 single phase.