Electrophoretic deposition of Ba0.77Ca0.23TiO3 nanopowders

Ba0.77Ca0.23TiO3 (BCT23) nanometric powders, synthesized by the modified Pechini method, were used as precursor to produce thick films (50–130 μm) employing the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. The BCT23 powder presented a single crystalline phase with an average particle size and a crystallite size of ∼60 nm and ∼20 nm, respectively, when calcined at 800 °C/2 h. BCT23 thick films were deposited on platinum substrates starting from different suspensions prepared by dispersion of the powder into: isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or a mixture of acetylacetone (Acac) and ethanol (EtOH) (1:1, volumetric ratio). A milling process was used to deagglomerate the powders in order to increase the suspension stability and improving the deposition. Dense and crack free thick films with uniform microstructure were obtained after sintering at 1300 °C/2 h from Acac + EtOH solution.