Polarization reversal in BaTiO3 nanostructures synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

Abstract Ferroelectric BaTiO 3 nanostructures and thin films were deposited by a microwave assisted hydrothermal process at low temperatures ( 2 O 3 /SiO 2 /Si and Nb:SrTiO 3 (100) substrates. TiO 2 nanoparticles dispersed in the Ba(OH) 2 alkaline solution are used as the precursors withoutany mineralizers. The incorporation of H 2 O 2 into precursor solution served as a strong oxidant and catalyst for the uniform nucleation of BaTiO 3 on the substrate surface. The polycrystalline and epitaxial nature of the films were confirmed by atomic force microscopy and x-ray diffraction studies. We report the ferroelectric behavior of BaTiO 3 films on Nb:SrTiO 3 (100) substrates by piezoresponse force microscopy.