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Research & Reviews : Journal of Physics Original Research

Impact of Sol–Gel Processing on Dielectric and Energy Storage Properties of BaTiO3 Nanoceramics

  1. Tarak Yogesh Kumar Shah Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Monark University, Ahmedabad
  2. Adwait Mevada Department of Physics, Monark University, Ahmedabad

Abstract

Barium titanate (BaTiO3) is a widely studied ferroelectric material because of its high dielectric permittivity and strong potential for electrostatic energy storage applications. In this study, BaTiO3 nanoceramics were synthesized using a controlled sol–gel processing route to investigate the influence of synthesis conditions on their dielectric relaxation and energy storage performance. The synthesized powders were calcined and subsequently sintered at temperatures ranging from 1100°C to 1300°C. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a single-phase tetragonal perovskite BaTiO3 with crystallite sizes in the range of 65–85 nm. Microstructural examination revealed uniform nanograins with grain sizes varying from 120 nm to 260 nm depending on the sintering temperature. Dielectric measurements performed in the frequency range of 1 kHz–1 MHz showed typical dielectric dispersion behavior, with the highest dielectric constant of ≈2450 at 1 kHz obtained for the sample sintered at 1200°C, along with low dielectric loss (tan δ < 0.02). Ferroelectric characterization using polarization–electric field (P–E) hysteresis loops indicated improved polarization behavior with maximum polarization (Pmax) of 12.8 μC/cm2 and remnant polarization (Pr) of 1.6 μC/cm2. The optimized sample exhibited a recoverable energy density of ~1.68 J/cm3 with an energy storage efficiency of ~84%, indicating efficient energy storage capability. The results demonstrate that controlled sol–gel processing and optimized sintering conditions significantly enhance the dielectric and energy storage properties of BaTiO3 nanoceramics. These findings highlight the importance of microstructural control in improving the performance of lead-free dielectric materials and support the potential application of BaTiO3 nanoceramics in advanced dielectric capacitors and pulsed power energy storage devices.

Keywords

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