Structural characterization of BaZrO3 nanopowders prepared by stearic acid gel method

Pure barium zirconate nanopowders were successfully prepared in wet-chemistry synthesismethod, using barium stearate and tetra-n-butyl zirconate as Ba, Zr sources and stearic acid ascomplexing reagent. The gel was calcined at 800 and 900 °C in air. Results of thermal analysisare given, including both DTG and TG. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-raydiffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy and (TEM) scanning electron microscopy(SEM) were used to characterize the crystallization process, the particle size and morphology ofthe calcined powders. The results indicated that barium zirconate nanopowders with particle sizebetween 20 and 25 nm could be obtained after calcinations of the dried gel at 900 °C for 2 h.