Hydrothermal synthesis of ferroelectric perovskites from chemically modified titanium isopropoxide and acetate salts

The feasibility of the acetylacetonate-Tri isopropoxide complex as a new precursor for synthesis of Ti-based perovskite particles under hydrothermal conditions has been demonstrated. Perovskite powders including BaTiO3, PbTiO3, PZT, PLZT, and SiTiO3 were prepared by reacting the acetylacetonate-modified Ti precursor in metal acetate aqueous salt solution under hydrothermal conditions. Synthesis parameters including reaction time and temperature, feedstock concentration, and reaction medium significantly influence panicle characteristics of the hydrothermally derived perovskite powders. It is proposed that use of the acetylacetonate-modified Ti precursor promotes intimate mixing among multicomponent reacting species at the molecular level and promotes particle formation through a dissolution/recrystallization mechanism.