Nanofibers of barium strontium titanate (BST) by sol–gel processing and electrospinning

This paper describes the fabrication of barium strontium titanate (Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 or BST) nanofibers by electrospinning method using a solution that contained poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and a sol–gel solution of BST. The as-spun and calcined BST/PVP composite nanofibers were characterized by TG-DTA, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, SEM and TEM, respectively. After calcination of the as-spun BST/PVP composite nanofibers at above 700 °C in air for 2 h, BST nanofibers of 188±25 nm188±25 nm in diameter having well-developed cubic-perovskite structure were successfully obtained. The crystal structure and morphology of the nanofibers were influenced by the calcination temperature. Calcination at below 700 °C resulted in amorphous phase whereas BST with second phase such as barium titanate were formed at above 700 °C. Diameters of the nanofibers decreased from 208±35208±35 to 161±18 nm161±18 nm with increasing calcination temperature between 600 and 800 °C.

Graphical abstractSEM micrograph with the histogram (left) showing the size distribution of electrospun BST/PVP composite nanofibers calcined in air at 700 °C for 2 h.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide