Synthesis of micron-scale platelet Ba_1-xCa_xTiO ₃ microcrystals by the topochemical microcrystal conversion method

A-site complex perovskite Ba_1-xCa_xTiO₃ microcrystals with platelike shape and micron sizes were synthesized successfully via a designed one-step topochemical microcrystal conversion reaction method. In the process of synthesis, platelet Bi₄Ti ₃O₁₂ were used as precursor and powdered carbonates BaCO₃-CaCO₃ mixture were employed as reactants in KCl flux at 950 C. The designed one-step TMC synthesis routine has potential to synthesize other A-site complex perovskite microcrystals with platelike shape and micron sizes. The synthetic platelike Ba_1-xCa_xTiO ₃ microcrystals with an edge length of about 6-10 μm and a thickness is less than 0.5 μm. These microcrystals serving as a suitable template seed can be employed to produce highly textured ceramics using the reactive templated grain growth (RTGG) method and single crystals via seeded polycrystal conversion (SPC) technique.