Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization of Barium Titanate Powders

Cubic BaTiO 3 powders have been synthesized from gel powders after thermal treatment in an alcohol solution and characterized using X‐ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and other techniques in detail. The borderline reaction conditions, such as the reaction temperature and time, for the synthesis of crystalline BaTiO 3 powder in different solvents are established. The single‐phase BaTiO 3 powder has low agglomeration and seems to have a regular morphology. The formation of BaTiO 3 powders via solvothermal reaction is more difficult, in comparison to hydrothermal processing. The crystalline powders, which have a small particle size (∼20–60 nm) and narrow particle‐size distribution, can be synthesized in methanol, ethanol, or n ‐propanol systems. Unlike the hydrothermal reaction, tetragonal‐phase BaTiO 3 powders cannot be prepared via the solvothermal reaction, even with alkali catalysts.