Synthesis of nm-sized barium titanate crystallites using a new LTDS method and their characterization

Abstract

A new LTDS method was established to synthesize nm-sized barium titanate crystallites with particle sizes around 10 nm. This LTDS method was the following two features, i.e., (1) a heat of neutralization in a neutralization reaction between strong acid and base can be used as a driving force for a formation of barium titanate, and (2) barium titanate crystallites can be directly synthesized from Ti and Ba ions, not via intermediates. Therefore, using the LTDS method, it can be expected that there is no minimum limit in particle sizes, and also no contamination in barium titanate crystallites. At first, optimum conditions for a formation of barium titanate were screened at various reaction temperatures and Ba/Ti atomic ratios in the starting materials. As a result, the formation of barium titanate was found at higher reaction temperatures than 50°C and higher Ba/Ti atomic ratios than 5. Under a constant temperature, particle sizes decreased with increasing Ba/Ti atomic ratios while under a constant Ba/Ti atomic ratio, particle sizes were independent of reaction temperatures. Finally, barium titanate crystallites with particle sizes below 10 nm were first prepared. These particles were also characterized using various methods.