| Abstract Scope |
Dielectric and ferroelectric ceramics such as SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 find wide application in many electronic devices, including multilayer ceramic capacitors, PTCR thermistors, tunable microwave components, etc. Devices have continued to evolve towards increasing performances (higher capacitance, lower dielectric losses, better tunability) and smaller size (miniaturization). Fabrication of these ceramic components requires fine powders with controlled size and composition. Particles with narrow size distribution and high sinterability can be produced by means of solution-based synthesis methods, including hydrothermal synthesis and precipitation, using relatively cheap inorganic precursors. Solution-based methods are also applied for the modification of particle surface, including decoration and coating with a second phase. The presentation focuses on the synthesis of fine SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 particles with tailored size, the development of composite particles with core-shell structure and the fabrication of dense nanostructured ceramics. The opportunities for tailoring ceramics with specific microstructure-property relations will be illustrated. |