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

The feasibility of the acetylacetonate-Tri isopropoxide complex as a new pr ecursor for synthesis of Ti-based perovskite particles under hydrothermal c onditions has been demonstrated. Perovskite powders including BaTiO3, PbTiO 3, PZT, PLZT, and SiTiO3 were prepared by reacting the acetylacetonate-modi fied 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 panicl e characteristics of the hydrothermally derived perovskite powders. It is p roposed that use of the acetylacetonate-modified Ti precursor promotes inti mate mixing among multicomponent reacting species at the molecular level an d promotes particle formation through a dissolution/recrystallization mecha nism.