BaTiO3 Research Articles

Fabrication, thermal, mechanical, and piezoelectric characterization of PLA/BT piezocomposites

Abstract The properties of polylactide (PLA) composites containing up to 40 vol% of barium titanate (BT) powder were investigated. PLA/BT composites were fabricated using twin-screw extrusion, which ensured uniform filler dispersion. The results demonstrated that increasing the BT content in PLA improved the thermal stability, stiffness, and degree of crystallinity of the composite. The piezoelectric coefficient d33 also increased with higher BT content and longer polarization times, reaching a maximum value of 35 pC/N for composites containing 40 vol% BT. Additionally, the studies revealed that the d33 coefficient is pressure dependent. Presented PLA/BT piezocomposites highlight the suitability of these materials for applications that require both biocompatibility and piezoelectric functionality, including regenerative medicine, energy harvesting, soft robotics, and electroactive biomedical devices.

Ni-modified BaTiO3 film prepared by sol-gel with high energy storage performance

The development of lead-free dielectric capacitors with high recoverable energy storage density and high energy storage efficiency is important for improving the overall performance of electronic and power systems. BaTiO3 (BTO) is one of the most common ferroelectric materials and has attracted much attention for energy storage applications in the past decades due to its excellent dielectric and ferroelectric properties. However, high remnant polarization and low electrical breakdown strength of BTO limit its development in energy storage applications. Many efforts (e.g., elements doping, interface/heterostructure, etc.) have been made to improve the energy storage density of BTO thin films. In this paper, Ba1-xNixTiO3 thin films (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08; abbreviated as BNxT) were synthesized via sol-gel and spin-coated method. The effect of Ni doping on the structural, dielectric, ferroelectric and energy storage properties of BTO thin films has been studied. The results confirmed that with the increase of Ni doping, a second phase arises and the dielectric constant decreases. While appropriate Ni doping led to the improvement of the breakdown strength, further increase of Ni deteriorated the energy storage because of the high oxygen vacancy. Finally, optimized energy storage performance was obtained for BN0.04T thin film: dielectric constant of 401, dielectric loss of 0.002, recoverable energy density of 20.2 J/cm3 and energy storage efficiency of 83.6% at 965 kV/cm. Meanwhile, the remnant and maximum polarization of the films were 0.06 μC/cm2 and 50 μC/cm2, respectively. BN0.04T thin film has an excellent application prospect and is expected to appear as a component in the future composite energy storage film system.

Hollow and heterojunction-structured Janus nanomotors for pyroelectrodynamic and nanozyme-catalyzed tumor therapy

Pyroelectrodynamic therapy (PEDT) has emerged as an attractive therapeutic modality for tumors, but is dramatically discounted by inherent defects of wide band gap, fast electron − hole recombination and low photothermal utilization. Herein, hollow-structured Janus nanoparticles (NPs) are developed to improve tumor accumulation and PEDT generation of reactive oxidative species (ROS) for antitumor treatment. Hollow barium titanate (hBT) NPs were prepared by the template and hydrothermal method for in situ deposition of CuS nanodots and then partially coated with polydopamine (PDA) caps to obtain hBT-CuS@PDA. Finite element analysis reveals that the unique thin shell of hBT benefits transportation of pyroelectrically generated charge carriers through shortening diffusion distance to the interface. The CuS deposition forms heterojunctions with hBT to accelerate electron − hole separation and leads to a larger pyroelectric current. The hollow structure facilitates light absorption and conversion, and the photothermal effect of the half-coated PDA caps generates asymmetric temperature gradient to drive NP locomotion across biological barriers. The in situ generated pyroelectric field selectively affects membrane potential and fluidity of tumor cells to enhance the specific NP internalization. The pyroelectric effect enhances the peroxidase-like activity of CuS nanodots to generate toxic ·OH and the glutathione peroxidase-like activity to inhibit glutathione consumption of ROS. The integration of photothermal, pyroelectric, nanozyme catalysis and self-protrusion effects promotes NP accumulation and penetration throughout tumors to exhibit therapeutic effect at a mild-temperature, reducing the possible high-temperature ablation of normal tissues. The hollow and heterjunction structure generates abundant intracellular ROS and efficient diffusion in tumor tissues to inhibit tumor growth and extend animal survival, offering a safe and effective PEDT strategy.

Cobalt Ferrite@Barium titanate core-shell nanoparticles empowered triboelectric electromagnetic coupled nanogenerator for self-powered electronics

In pursuing sustainable energy solutions for wearable technology and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, achieving high power in self-powered electronics is a significant challenge. This study introduces a novel hybrid nanogenerator by integrating a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and an electromagnetic generator (EMG) to achieve both high voltage and high current outputs simultaneously. The cobalt ferrite barium titanate (CoFe2O4@ BaTiO3) core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) were chosen for their unique ability to enhance the system’s performance by combining triboelectric, piezoelectric, and electromagnetic properties. The BaTiO3 shell exhibited robust triboelectric and piezoelectric properties essential for TENG operation, while the CoFe2O4 core, influenced by the EMG’s magnetic field, induces additional static charges, significantly boosting overall energy conversion efficiency. The TENG and EMG in the combined system operate together in a contact-separation mode, where their in-phase output signals are seamlessly combined via a double bridge rectifier, resulting in a robust power output of 37.7 mW and a power density of 1.86 mW/cm2, with cycling stability of over 10,000 cycles. The uniquely designed TENG-EMG combined nanogenerator (C-TENG) exhibited striking adaptability, effectively operating across different low-to-high frequencies and load situations while constantly powering portable electronic devices. This innovative approach meets the high energy demands of modern self-powered electronics with exceptional efficiency, durability, and high-power density, positioning it as a versatile solution for wearable biomechanical energy harvesting.

BaTiO3 Doping Enhances Ultrasound-Driven Piezoelectric Bactericidal Effects of Fibrous Poly(L-Lactic Acid) Dressings to Accelerate Septic Wound Healing.

Bacterial invasion in infected skin wounds triggers inflammation and impedes healing. Current therapeutic strategies incorporating drug interventions within wound dressings often result in drug resistance and delayed healing. Here, we developed a comprehensive therapeutic modality integrating piezoelectric fibrous dressing with controlled ultrasound stimulation for efficient healing in an infected wound model. The electrospun fibrous dressings composed of barium titanate (BaTiO3) doped poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) possess improved piezoelectric properties due to the aligned structure and high crystallinity, which achieved superior bactericidal efficacy upon ultrasound-mechanical-electric conversion that results in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). There were 88.72% and 90.43% killing rates of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively upon ultrasound stimulation without any need for exogenous drugs, and a wound closure rate of 95.5% within 10 days. The in vivo results confirmed that this dressing effectively shortened wound closure time by about 2 days, with a much-improved healing rate of 14% compared with previously reported therapeutic strategies. This was accompanied by reduced inflammation and increased re-epithelialization and angiogenesis. Hence, our synergistic treatment by piezoelectric materials and controlled ultrasound stimulation provides a drug-free alternative approach in regenerative tissue engineering for simultaneously enhancing antibacterial effects and promoting wound healing.

A study of epoxy based polymer composites: Tailoring mechanical and piezoelectric characteristics

AbstractIn this study, epoxy based piezoelectric polymer composites were fabricated using two different curing agents and varying compositions of poly(vinylidene) fluoride (PVDF), barium titanate (BaTiO3), and conductive silver nanoparticles. The effect of piezoelectric ceramic and conductive nanofillers on enhancing the PVDF β phase within the composite structure was investigated. Structural, thermal, and morphological characterizations of the polymer composites were performed using x‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of mechanical properties and fracture toughness was conducted in addition to the piezoelectric behavior. A voltage output of 1.35 V was generated by a polymer composite containing 20 wt% BaTiO3, with a Young's modulus of 2 GPa and a fracture energy of 2.3 kJ/m2. The findings of this study contribute to expanding the knowledge and understanding of piezoelectric polymer composites, enabling their potential utilization in various scientific and technological applications.Highlights Enhancing mechanical and piezoelectric properties of epoxy based piezoelectric composites. A clear and comprehensive description of the experimental procedures employed. Comparative analysis methods: structural, thermal, mechanical, fracture, and piezoelectric property analyses.

Physiochemical, Radiative Transitions and Thermoluminescence Characterizations of Nano Ce-doped Monoclinic Barium Titanate

AbstractThis article reports the preparation, analytical, and thermoluminescence (TL) characterization of BaTi5O11 doped with different amounts of Ce. The Sol–gel technique was used to synthesize the doped nanocrystals. The prepared samples were examined by XRD, EDX, UV–Vis spectrophotometry, SEM, and TEM techniques to determine their analytical features. The samples with 0.7% Ce doping showed the best thermoluminescent behavior among the samples we made. The glow curves analysis showed that there were seven peaks that overlapped with each other. The thermal activation energy values of the carrier traps are 0.93, 1.08, 1.16, 1.23, 1.29, 1.35, and 1.38 eV. This study displayed that 0.7% Ce-doped BaTi5O11 can be used in monitoring high doses radiation applications.

Ultra-soft, foldable, wearable piezoelectric sensor based on the aligned BaTiO3 nanoparticles

Developing the inorganic piezoelectric particles/polymer matrix composites is a simple, effective, and low-cost strategy to manufacture the flexible, wearable sensors. But their application has been hindered by an obvious trade-off between electronic performances and mechanical deformability, because of the issue of dispersion difficulty and isolated distribution of inorganic nanofillers in matrix. Here, an ultra-soft, substrate-free, wearable piezoelectric sensor with aligned barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles was designed and fabricated. To resolve the issue of degradation of flexibility of composites, a chemical etching treatment was introduced into the process of hydrothermal, which increased the content of tetragonal BTO nanoparticles and optimized the interaction between inorganic layer and polymer matrix. Thus, a higher sensitivity of 73.5 V/MPa was obtained by the as-prepared composites with the orientation of BTO than those of the reported BTO-based composites. Notably, the sensor with the thin functional layer demonstrated excellent stability even after 200 double-folded fatigue cycles. For this reason, the designed sensor could completely wrap or attach onto the different complex surface to simultaneously detect various dynamic signals involving the fluidic flowing, pulse rate and moved direction of body. Moreover, the foldable piezoelectric sensing array was easily fabricated by the proposed method, which offers the huge opportunity for the widespread applications in health monitoring, personal safety, and activity monitoring on the complex surface.

Significantly improved energy storage performance of polyetherimide-based dielectric composites via employing core-shell organic-semiconductor@BaTiO3 nanoparticles

With fast development of modern industries and electrical systems, polymer dielectrics are urgently demanded to have high discharged energy density (Ud) in elevated temperature. In this paper, novel core-shell poly [2-((3,6,7,10,11-pentakis (hexyloxy) triphenylene-2-yl) oxy) ethyl methacrylate] (PHT) coated barium titanate nanoparticles (BT) (denoted as PHT@BT) are prepared, and then incorporate into polyetherimide (PEI) matrix via solution blending method. Semi-conductive organic shell layer can not only promote the dispersion and compatibility of BT nanoparticles but also construct deep trap. As a result, 0.3 wt% PHT@BT/PEI composites achieve maximal Ud of 7.62 J cm−3 at 641 MV m−1 and room temperature, which is 1.93 times that of pure PEI film (3.93 J cm−3 at 461 MV m−1). Importantly, the Ud of 4.86 J cm−3 is obtained at 150 °C. This work provides superior interfacial modifier for inorganic nanofiller, which is of great significance for the fabrication of polymer-based nanocomposites with superior Ud.

Investigation of Wettability, Thermal Stability, and Solar Behavior of Composite Films Based on Thermoplastic Polyurethane and Barium Titanate Nanoparticles

Herein, composite films were produced by incorporating different amounts (1, 3, 5, and 7%) of barium titanate nanoparticles into the thermoplastic polyurethane matrix using a solution casting method. This study examined the impact of the presence and concentration of a barium titanate additive on morphologic properties, mechanical performance, thermal stability, solar behavior, and wettability of produced film samples. The films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope, ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer, water contact angle, and tensile strength measurements. In the present study, the mass loss of samples containing 7% barium titanate was 24% lower than that of the pure polyurethane reference. The increase of barium titanate rate added to polyurethane enhanced the solar reflectance property of the films, including the near-infrared region. As a prominent result, the transmittance value decreased significantly compared to the reference in the ultraviolet region, and it dropped to 3% for the highest additive concentration. The contact angle values of polyurethane films increased by 11–40% depending on the barium titanate addition ratio. The nano additive also positively affected the mechanical performance of the reference polyurethane film by slightly increasing the tensile strength values.

Structural, Magnetic, and Dielectric Properties of Laser-Ablated CoFe2O4/BaTiO3 Bilayers Deposited over Highly Doped Si(100)

Laser ablation was used to successfully fabricate multiferroic bilayer thin films, composed of BaTiO3 (BTO) and CoFe2O4 (CFO), on highly doped (100) Si substrates. This study investigates the influence of BaTiO3 layer thickness (50–220 nm) on the films’ structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties. The dense, polycrystalline films exhibited a tetragonal BaTiO3 phase and a cubic spinel CoFe2O4 layer. Structural analysis revealed compression of the CoFe2O4 unit cell along the growth direction, while the BaTiO3 layer showed a tetragonal distortion, more pronounced in thinner BTO layers. These strain effects, attributed to the mechanical interaction between both layers, induced strain-dependent wasp-waisted behavior in the films’ magnetic hysteresis cycles. The strain effects gradually relaxed with increasing BaTiO3 thickness. Raman spectroscopy and second harmonic generation studies confirmed BTO’s non-centrosymmetric ferroelectric structure at room temperature. The displayed dielectric permittivity dispersion was modeled using the Havriliak–Negami function combined with a conductivity term. This analysis yielded relaxation times, DC conductivities, and activation energies. The observed BTO relaxation time behavior, indicative of small-polaron transport, changed significantly at the BTO ferroelectric Curie temperature (Tc), presenting activation energies Eτ in the 0.1–0.3 eV range for T < Tc and Eτ > 0.3 eV for T > Tc. The BTO thickness-dependent Tc behavior exhibited critical exponents ν ~ 0.82 consistent with the 3D random Ising universality class, suggesting local disorder and inhomogeneities in the films. This was attributed to the composite structure of BTO grains, comprising an inner bulk-like structure, a gradient strained layer, and a disordered surface layer. DC conductivity analysis indicated that CoFe2O4 conduction primarily occurred through hopping in octahedral sites. These findings provide crucial insights into the dynamic dielectric behavior of multiferroic bilayer thin films at the nanoscale, enhancing their potential for application in emerging Si electronics-compatible magneto-electric technologies.

Boosting piezocatalytic activity for hydrogen bonding self-assembled Ti3C2/BaTiO3 heterojunction via accumulated piezoelectric effect

Constructing heterojunctions has been proved to effectively improve the carrier transfer capability for enhanced catalytic activity. Herein, Ti3C2/BaTiO3 heterojunctions were fabricated through self-assembly driven by hydrogen bonding between piezoelectric barium titanate (BaTiO3) stabilized by oleic acid molecules and titanium carbide (Ti3C2) with surficial functional groups under continuous ultrasonic vibration. Owing to the formation of heterojunction, the separation of free charges can be promoted by the conductive Ti3C2. Additionally, the recombination of electrons and holes pairs in BaTiO3 can be hindered by built-in piezoelectric field. Hence, the piezocatalytic activity of Ti3C2/BaTiO3 was significantly enhanced by the accumulated piezoelectric effect, maintaining stability during the piezocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A and achieving rate constants that were 22.2 and 3.2 times higher than those of Ti3C2 and BaTiO3, respectively. This work thus presents a novel strategy for designing high-activity heterojunction piezocatalysts through hydrogen bonding self-assembly.

Broad temperature span and large electrocaloric effect in lead-free ceramics via multi-strategy synergistic optimization

The rapid advancement of electronic technology has increased power consumption in integrated circuits, presenting significant challenges for efficient cooling. BaTiO3 (BT)-based ceramics offer promising electrocaloric (EC) cooling, providing a compact, efficient alternative to bulky, environmentally harmful vapor compression refrigeration, though temperature span (Tspan) and phase transitions limit their current practicality. This study explores a novel (0.5-x)Ba0.72Sr0.28TiO3-0.5BaTi0.8Sn0.2O3-xBa0.72Ca0.28TiO3 [(0.5-x)BST-BTS-xBCT] ceramic system, leveraging phase boundary engineering to achieve continuous and broad phase transitions. By optimizing grain size and enhancing the breakdown electric field (Eb) through a density adjustment strategy, the 0.2BCT ceramics demonstrated excellent EC performance at 38 °C, with a ΔT of 2.71 K and a Tspan of 49.1 °C. These findings establish (0.5-x)BST-BTS-xBCT ceramics as a promising lead-free material for EC applications with significant potential for improving microelectronic cooling solutions.

Solid-State Synthesis for High-Tetragonality, Small-Particle Barium Titanate

This study successfully synthesized high-tetragonality barium titanate (BaTiO3) particles with a small particle size by implementing ball milling in the solid-state synthesis of BaTiO3 and utilizing nanoscale raw materials. This study also addressed the issues of impurities and uneven particle size distribution that could exist in the synthesized BaTiO3 particles. The crystal structure, morphology, and particle size of the synthesized BaTiO3 particles have been meticulously analyzed and discussed through the use of techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the laser particle size analyzer. BaTiO3 has been successfully synthesized, exhibiting a uniform particle size with an average diameter of 170 nm and a high tetragonality value of 1.01022. This new solid-state synthesis method provided insights to avoid the impact of “size effects” during the process of electronic device miniaturization.

Optimizing the Electrical Microenvironment Provided by 3D Micropillar Topography on a Piezoelectric BaTiO3 Substrate to Enhance Osseointegration.

The electrical properties of bone implant scaffolds are a pivotal factor in regulating cellular behavior and promoting osteogenesis. The previous study shows that built-in electric fields established between electropositive nanofilms and electronegative bone defect walls are beneficial for promoting bone defect healing. Considering that the physiological electrical microenvironment is spatially distributed in 3D, it is imperative to establish a 3D spatial charged microenvironment on bone scaffolds to optimize the efficacy of osseointegration. Nevertheless, this still poses a formidable challenge. Here, a bone repair strategy that utilizes micro-scale 3D topography is developed on a piezoelectric BaTiO3 (BTO) substrate to provide 3D spatial electrical stimulation. The BTO micropillar arrays, especially with a height of 50 µm and positive-charge distribution (50 µm positive), promote the spreading, cytoskeletal reorganization, focal adhesion maturation, and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). They enhanced the clustering of mechanosensing integrin α5 in BMSCs. The biomimetic 3D spatial electrical microenvironment accelerated bone repair and osseointegration in a rat femoral diaphysis defect repair model. The study thus reveals that implants with a 3D spatial electrical microenvironment can significantly enhance osseointegration, thereby providing a new strategy to optimize the performance of electroactive biomaterials for tissue regenerative therapies.

Mixed Perovskite Phases of BaTiO3/BaTi5O11 for Efficient Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to CO.

One of the most promising approaches in solving the energy crisis and reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions is artificial photosynthetic CO2 reduction. The electrochemical method for CO2 reduction is more appealing since it can be operated under ambient conditions, and the product selectivity strongly depends on the applied potential. Perovskites with ferroelectric properties strongly adsorb linear CO2 molecules. In this study, barium titanate (BaTiO3) perovskite is used as an electrocatalyst to promote CO2 activation and conversion to CO. Perovskite catalysts were prepared by ball-milling followed by annealing at 900 °C for 4 to 6 h in an open atmosphere. The TEM and SEM study shows that the particle size varies in the range of 80-200 nm. Mixed phases of BaTiO3 and BaTi5O11 supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes are found to be highly active for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO with maximum Faradaic efficiency of 89.4 % at -1.0 V versus Ag/AgCl in CO2 saturated 0.5 KOH solution. This study concludes that mixed phases of BaTiO3 and BaTi5O11 are more active and highly selective for CO2 conversion to CO compared to single-phase BaTiO3.

Enhanced energy storage performance in polyetherimide composites via oriented one-dimensional BZCT@BT core-shell filler.

The development of dielectric capacitors toward high voltage and high power density requires materials with excellent insulation and energy storage performances. In this work, a polymer dielectric with polyetherimide (PEI) as the matrix and calcium barium zirconate titanate (BZCT) coated by barium titanate fiber (BT) as the filler (BZCT@BT) was constructed. The (0.5%-10% BZCT@BT/PEI) polymer dielectric has an excellent discharge energy density (Ue) of 6.66 J/cm3 and maintains an advanced charge/discharge efficiency (η) of 93.29% when the BT content was 0.5% and the BZCT particle content was 10%. The addition of BZCT endows the polymer dielectric with a higher relative dielectric constant (εr), while BT, maintaining a lower εr than BZCT, could reduce the electric field (E) distortion caused by the dielectric mismatch between PEI and BZCT. Oriented fiber fillers increase the breakdown strength of the polymer dielectric, ultimately increasing the performance of energy storage. A new strategy for the design of energy storage polymer dielectrics was provided by this work.

Piezoelectric Nanoparticle-Based Ultrasound Wireless Piezoelectric Neuromodulation Inhibits Epileptiform Activity of Primary Neurons.

Piezoelectric materials, renowned for their ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, have gained attention for their potential in biomedical applications. In particular, piezoelectric nanoparticles, such as barium titanate nanoparticles, hold great promise for treating neurologically related diseases. In this study, barium titanate piezoelectric nanoparticles are used as stimulators to directly treat epileptic neurons. After being modified by polyethylene glycol, barium titanate nanoparticles have shown excellent biocompatibility and dispersibility. Furthermore, such nanoparticles offer wireless piezoelectric stimulation to neurons in response to low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. More importantly, our experiments reveal that piezoelectric stimulation immediately reduces neuronal intracellular calcium concentration and restores cell viability. These effects are attributed to the opening of voltage-gated calcium channels and the release of active substances. These findings offer insights into the potential of piezoelectric stimulation as an approach for epilepsy treatment and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying electrical stimulation in epileptic neurons.

Programmable and rapid fabrication of complex-shape ceramics

Shaping of ceramics is crucial. Current techniques cannot easily and rapidly shape ceramics without weakening their properties, especially for piezoceramics. We present an ultrafast ceramic shaping method that leverages thermomechanical fields to deform and sinter ceramic powder compacts into complex-shaped ceramics. The shape-forming process hinges on: (1) the implementation of a precise thermal field to activate optimal deformability, and (2) the application of sufficient mechanical loads to guide deformation. We employ a programmable carbon-felt Joule heater that concurrently function as mechanical carriers, effectively transferring applied loads to the ceramic powder compacts. Using this ultrafast shaping and sintering (USS) method, we fabricate barium titanate (BT) piezoceramics in twisted shape, arch shape and with micropatterns. The USS method is energy-friendly (requiring approximately 1.06 kJ mm−3) and time-efficient (in several minutes level). Overall, the USS method offers an effective solution for shaping ceramics and extends them to 3D geometries with enhanced versatility.

Correlation-induced generation of superharmonics in the high-order harmonic spectrum of perovskite barium titanate

Correlation-induced generation of superharmonics in the high-order harmonic spectrum of perovskite barium titanate