Influence of barium source on the characteristics of sol-precipitated BaTiO3 powders and related ceramics.

In order to obtain pure and fine BaTiO₃ powders with controlled morphology, sol-precipitation methods involving the use of titanium iso-propoxide and of two different barium sources, i.e. barium nitrate and barium acetate, were proposed in this work. The thermal behaviour of the synthesized gels and the X-ray diffraction data obtained for the oxide powders pointed out that, by using Ba(NO₃)₂ as barium source, the decomposition process was completed at lower temperature (750°C) and was accompanied by a more pronounced tendency to obtain a single phase BaTiO₃ composition, by comparison with the synthesis where barium acetate was used as raw material (1100°C). Scanning electron microscopy investigations emphasized the effect of the nature of barium source and synthesis conditions on the morphology of the oxide powders, as well as on the microstructure of the related ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]