Synthesis of barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanofibers via electrospinning

Barium titanate nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning utilizing sol-gel precursors. The electrospun polymer-ceramic composite fibers were heat treated to yield perovskite barium titanate fibers after annealing at 750 degrees C for 1 h. The morphology, microstructure and crystal structure were investigated by SEM, XRD and TEM. Typical fiber diameter was between 80 and 190 nm with fiber lengths exceeding 0.1 mm. This is the first time stand-alone electrospun complex oxide ferroelectric nanofibers are reported. Due to the high electric field of electrospinning, (1 - 2 kV/cm) the electrochemistry is expected to have an impact on the ferroelectric nanofiber properties. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.