Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
Nanocrystalline ( particle diameter less than 50 nm) ceramic powders have been prepared by the rapid evaporation of precursor solutions containing the respective metal nitrates/ hydroxides, triethanolamine (TEA) and sucrose in stoichiometric amounts. Complete evaporation of the solutions yields a fluffy dried precursor mass. Heat-treatment of the precursor mass at low external temperatures (450-700 °C) resulted in the desired nanocrystalline oxides. The oxide system studied are: barium titanate (BaTiO3), lanthanum modified lead zirconate-titanate (PLZT), Nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) and Calcium Tungstate (CaWO4).