Conversion Study on the Formation of Mechanochemically Synthesized BaTiO3

Abstract

Mechanochemistry is a method that can cover the energy demand of reaction pathways between solid materials. This requires enough energy to maintain the reactions between the starting materials. This is called “high-energy milling”. In our case, a planetary ball mill provided the required energy. Using the Burgio-equation, the required energy is determinable; the energy released during a single impact of a milling ball (Eb), as well as during the whole milling process (Ecum). The aim of this work was the one-step production of BaTiO3 from BaO and TiO2 starting materials. Whereas during mechanochemical reactions it is possible to produce nanoparticles of up to 10 nm, the essence of this study is to develop the preparation of BaTiO3 with a perovskite structure even without subsequent heat treatment, since sintering at high temperatures is associated with a rapid increase in the size of the particles. By describing the synthesis parameters and their energy values (Eb and Ecum), it is possible to transpose experimental conditions, so that in the case of other types of planetary ball mills or grinding vessel made of other materials, the results can be used. In this study, the mechanical treatment was carried out with a Fritsch Pulverisette-6 planetary ball mill and the transformation of the starting materials was investigated by X-ray diffractometric, Raman and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic, and transmission electron microscopic measurements.