In Situ Synthesis of Field-responsive Nanocrystalline BaTiO3 Particles Modified with Functional Organics

Nanocrystalline BaTiO3 particles modified with polarizable ligands were synthesized through hydrolysis of modified metal–organics below 100°C. BaTiO3 precursor was synthesized from barium metal, titanium isopropoxide and polarizable ligands in a mixture of ethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol. The modified Ba–Ti complex alkoxide was hydrolyzed yielding BaTiO3 particles modified with organics. The crystallinty of nanometer-sized particles was dependent upon the hydrolysis conditions, and increased with increasing water amount and time. The nanocrystalline particles were identified to be BaTiO3 by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron diffraction. A fluid consisting of modified BaTiO3 particles and silicone oil revealed a typical electrorheological (ER) behavior on applying DC field. The ER behavior was found to depend upon the kind of ligand. 4-Fluorobenzyloxy modifier revealed the highest yield stress in the ER measurement among 4-substitued benzyloxy ligands examined.