Facile preparation and dielectric properties of BaTiO(3) with different particle sizes and morphologies

BaTiO(3) nanoparticles were prepared by the hydrothermal method, and the effect of 1-(propyl-3-methoxysilyl)-3-methylimidazole chloride on the size of BaTiO(3) particles was investigated. The obtained BaTiO(3) was characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy; and the dielectric properties of BaTiO(3) ceramic sheets were tested. The results indicate that the spherical BaTiO(3)-N prepared without an ionic liquid was in a tetragonal phase with an average particle size of 129 nm. When an ionic liquid was added, the size of the BaTiO(3)-IL decreased and the degree of agglomeration increased. In addition, with increasing quantity of ionic liquid, the tetragonal-phase content of BaTiO(3)-IL gradually decreased until complete transformation into cubic phase. The dielectric constant of the BaTiO(3)-N ceramics was the highest, and the dielectric constant decreased with decreasing BaTiO(3) particle size. Moreover, two types of BaTiO(3) nanoparticles (bowl- and sea urchin-shaped) were prepared by changing the hydrothermal conditions and additives. The average particle size of the former was 92 nm, the tetragonal-phase content was ca. 90%, and the dielectric constant was large; whereas the sea urchin-shaped BaTiO(3) consisted of small particles in the cubic phase, and the dielectric constant was small.