Structure and Properties of Nano-BaTiO₃ Powders Synthesized via Hydrothermal Method using Different Precursors

Abstract

Four groups of nano barium titanate powders were prepared using the hydrothermal method. Their phase structure, microscopic morphology and electrical properties were investigated, and the impacts of raw materials on the barium titanate powders as well as the reaction mechanisms were explored. XRD and FTIR indicate the presence of hydroxyl groups and a small amount of carboxyl groups on the powder surface, and the choice of raw materials significantly affects phase purity, with H₂TiO₃ as raw materials being prone to introducing impurity phases. SEM shows that different precursors lead to morphological differences: soluble raw materials form uniform nanoparticles through a “dissolution-precipitation” mechanism while using TiO₂ as the titanium source generates hollow bowl-like structures through an “in-situ transformation” mechanism, attributed to the synergistic effects of Ostwald ripening and Kirkendall diffusion. The dielectric properties tests indicate that the dielectric constant at room temperature (1 500–3 000) and Curie temperature (2 000–5 000) of the ceramics are both lower than those of ceramics produced by solid-state methods (4 000–6 000 and >10 000), and the phase transition temperature range is widened, which is attributed to factors such as grain refinement, reduced tetragonality, grain boundary effects, and increased defects.

Keywords

BaTiO₃ / hydrothermal synthesis / nano-powder

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