Synthesis of nanometer-sized tetragonal barium titanate by the wet-chemical etching technique

Studies in the field of nanotechnology, a 21st century technology, are increasing day by day. Many different materials, material production methods and new approaches are studied in the field of nanotechnology. Efforts are continuing at full speed for low-cost, fast production, high purity and easy manufacturable nano-sized materials. Hydrothermal, sol-gel, solid-state reactions, solvothermal etc. are among the most used production methods in the field of nanotechnology. In this study, the wet-chemical etching method was used for the production of nano-sized barium titanate particles. Wet etching methods are generally used to modify the surface semiconductors such as silicon-based materials. The usability of the wet-chemical etching method on submicron-sized barium titanate powder, a perovskite ceramic material, was investigated here. Strong acids such as HCl, HF, H2SO4 and HNO3 and their mixtures were used as wet etching chemicals. The experiments were conducted at 120 °C, 60 °C and room temperature to determine the effect of etching on barium titanate particles. As a result, it was determined that the etching chemicals, specifically HNO3 and H2SO4, reduced the particle-size of barium titanate particles to a certain extent. The particle-size uniformity as well as the crystal phase composition of the particles were preserved after the wet-chemical etching procedure at a temperature of 120 °C.