Synthesis of micron-scale platelet Ba1−xCaxTiO3 microcrystals by the topochemical microcrystal conversion method

Abstract

A-site complex perovskite Ba1−xCaxTiO3 microcrystals with platelike shape and micron sizes were synthesized successfully via a designed one-step topochemical microcrystal conversion reaction method. In the process of synthesis, platelet Bi4Ti3O12 were used as precursor and powdered carbonates BaCO3–CaCO3 mixture were employed as reactants in KCl flux at 950°C. The designed one-step TMC synthesis routine has potential to synthesize other A-site complex perovskite microcrystals with platelike shape and micron sizes. The synthetic platelike Ba1−xCaxTiO3 microcrystals with an edge length of about 6–10μm and a thickness is less than 0.5μm. These microcrystals serving as a suitable template seed can be employed to produce highly textured ceramics using the reactive templated grain growth (RTGG) method and single crystals via seeded polycrystal conversion (SPC) technique.