Synthesis and characterization of strontium titanate powder via a simple polymer solution route

A simple chemical route has been used to synthesize highly sinterable strontium titanate (SrTiO3) powders using titanium isopropoxide, strontium nitrate and ethylene glycol. This method utilizes complexation-polymerization using ethylene glycol as an organic carrier, which leads to compositional homogeneity and fine particle sizes. The calcined SrTiO3 powder showing a porous nature was fully crystallized to a cubic phase at 1,300 degrees C for 1 hour. Through ball-milling the porous SrTiO3 powders with particle sizes of 200-300 nm were easily obtained, which was sintered to a bulk density of 4.8 g/cm(3) at 1,400 degrees C for 1 h with a grain size of approximately 6.0 mm. The relative dielectric constant and loss tangent of SrTiO3 sintered at 1,400 degrees C for 1 hour were 2078 and 0.022, respectively