Barium titanate via thermal decomposition of Ba,Ti-precursor complexes: The nature of the intermediate phases

The thermal decomposition of Ba,Ti-precursor complexes, containing organic ligands and suitable for the single-source preparation of nanocrystalline BaTiO₃, leads firstly to the segregation of specific Ba-rich and Ti-rich phases. Quantitative electron energy loss spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction data indicated that the (i) Ba-rich phase is a BaO-stabilised variant of the calcite-type high-temperature modification of BaCO₃ and (ii) Ti-rich phases are represented by low crystalline barium titanates with the general Ba:Ti ratio close to 1:4. The subsequent solid state reaction between these phases results then in the formation of BaTiO₃.