Continuous supercritical synthesis and dielectric behaviour of the whole BST solid solution

In this study we show that pure and well crystallized nanoparticles of BaxSr1-xTiO3 (BST) can be synthesized over the entire range of composition through the hydrolysis and further crystallization of alkoxide precursors under supercritical conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the whole ferroelectric solid solution has been produced in a continuous way, using the same experimental conditions. The composition of the powder can be easily controlled by adjusting the feed solution composition. The powders consist of soft-aggregated monocrystalline nanoparticles with an average particle size ranging from ~20 to 40 nm. Ferroelectric ceramics with accurately adjustable Curie temperature (100–390 K) can thus be obtained by sintering