Detailed FT-IR spectroscopy characterization and thermal analysis of synthesis of barium titanate nanoscale particles through a newly developed process

BaTiO3 nanopowders were prepared at lower temperature and in shorter time span through a newly developed process. To reach an in-detail understanding of mechanism of the process, thermal analysis were performed using DTA/TGA and FT-IR techniques aided by in-depth discussions. The results indicated that thermal evolution of sol–gel-powder transformation consists of following steps: the vaporization of volatile organic solvents, the deformation of gel structure and pyrolysis of the Ba–Ti organic precursors, the decomposition of BaCO3 into BaO and CO2, reaction of resulted BaO with TiO2 to form BaTiO3. The results also elucidated the reaction pattern and formation mechanism of BaTiO3 nanopowders from gel-derived precursor.