Synthesis of BaTiO3/Ag nanocomposites using a sonochemical process and low-temperature sintering

ABSTRACT A barium titanium oxide/silver (BaTiO3/Ag) nanocomposite powder was synthesized using a sonochemical process. By irradiating an ethanol solution of BaTiO3 and silver oxide (Ag2O), Ag2O thermally decomposed at 40°C and Ag-loaded BaTiO3 nanocomposites powder was obtained. Nanocomposites containing 30 vol% Ag sintered at 1000°C showed near densities and higher dielectric constants compared to those of BaTiO3 sintered at 1300°C. Moreover, percolation did not occur because the Ag nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed and loaded onto the surface of BaTiO3. This sonochemical method is expected to be a new process for obtaining uniformly dispersed and loaded nanocomposite powders without percolation, even in large amounts.