Synthesis and characterization of Sr1−xBaxBi4Ti4O15 ferroelectric materials

Sr1−xBaxBi4Ti4O15 (SBBT, x=0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0) was prepared by sol–gel method using the salts of strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), bismuth (Bi) and titanium butoxide as sources. The mechanism of hydrolysis and polymetric reaction of precursor solution and the influence of annealing condition on crystal structure and microstructure of SBBT ferroelectric materials were studied by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of the analysis indicated the formation of stable sol–gel system for SBBT when pH value of the solution was about 3.5. The crystallization temperature of SBBT powder was about 700 °C and the particle size was about 100 nm.