Electron microscopy of nanocrystalline BaTiO3

Abstract The microstructure of nanocrystalline BaTiO 3 prepared by microemulsion or sol-gel techniques is compared by means of transmission electron microscopy. After microemulsion a completely crystalline structure with a narrow size distribution is found. A log-normal distribution (statistical variance s = 1.66) observed for sol-gel-prepared crystallites after crystallization (T a = 873K) is compared with other synthesis routes. The microemulsion or sol-gel techniques were found to differ significantly with respect to crystallite growth which is related to the different degrees of agglomeration.