In situ growth BaTiO3 nanocubes and their superlattice from an aqueous process.

Ordered aggregated BaTiO(3) nanocubes with a narrow size distribution were obtained in an aqueous process by using bis(ammonium lactate) titanium dihydroxide (TALH) as Ti source in the presence of oleic acid and tert-butylamine. Kinetics of the formation of BaTiO(3) nanocubes indicated that an in situ growth mechanism was dominant and the superlattice of nanocubes formed in situ through the growth of BaTiO(3) nanoparticles in Ti-based hydrous gel. The size and morphology of nanocubes were controlled by tuning the concentration and molar ratio of surfactants. A novel growth model dependant on the structure of Ti precursor for the formation and morphology control of BaTiO(3) nanocubes and their superlattice was demonstrated. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012