Preparation and characterization of barium titanate nanofibers by electrospinning

PVP-BaTiO3 composite nanofibers were successfully prepared by electrospinning and pure BaTiO3 fibers were produced after calcination at 1000 degrees C. A homogeneous viscous solution of barium acetate + titanium acetate/titanium isopropoxide in poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) was prepared by varying PVP concentration in the range of 8-12%. The above sols were electrospun at 9 kV DC by maintaining tip to collector distance (TCD) of 7 cm. The electrospun fibers were calcined at 1000 degrees C for 2 h. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) of the fibers indicates the complete decomposition of organics below 700 degrees C with 45% weight loss. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study shows the fibers cylindrical, smooth with diameters in the range of 50-400 nm and the aspect ratio >1000. The average diameter of the fibers increases with the increase in PVP concentration. The calcined BaTiO3 nanofibers were found to be coarse, brittle and diameter reduced by 12%. FT-IR study confirms the formation of metal oxide bond at higher temperature. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.