Re-investigation of synthesis of BaTiO3 by conventional solid-state reaction and oxalate coprecipitation route for piezoelectric applications

The formation of barium titanate powder by solid-state reaction and oxalate coprecipitation route is re-investigated by differential thermal analysis–thermo-gravimetry (DTA–TG) thermal analysis and high temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD). The temperature formation of the perovskite phase is lower for the chemical way than for the solid state one, and no intermediate product is detected. The obtained powder leads to ceramics with high dielectric and piezoelectric properties. For example the room temperature piezoelectric d33 coefficient is 260 pC/N (higher than the values usually published in the literature) and it shows a good stability under electrical solicitations. These properties make BaTiO3 (BT) a lead-free high performance material for piezoelectric applications.