Ba(Ti1 − xSnx)O3 (x = 0.13) nanomaterials produced by low-temperature aqueous synthesis

BaTi_0.87Sn_0.13O₃ (BTS₁₃) nanopowder was prepared by low-temperature aqueous synthesis (LTAS) method. The evolution of the structure and microstructure of the precursor precipitate, heated at temperatures up to 1000 °C was studied by TGA, FT-IR, SEM and XRD techniques. The dried precipitate showed a microstructure consisting of nano-sized grains (∼40 nm) with great tendency to agglomeration. BaTi_0.87Sn_0.13O₃ single phase was obtained at 800 °C. The ceramics prepared from as-obtained BTS₁₃ powders (60-70 nm) show good dielectric and ferroelectric characteristics. The dielectric constant was about 4800 and the dielectric loss (tan δ) was 0.229 at 1 kHz and at the Curie temperature (31 °C). The remanent polarization (P_r) and the coercive field (E_C) of Ba_0.97Ho_0.03TiO₃ ceramics, at 1 kHz, were P_r = 13 μC/cm² and E_C = 0.89 kV/cm. The ferroelectric parameters E_C and P_r decrease with increasing frequency in the domain 100 Hz to 10 kHz.