Alternative route for synthesis of barium titanyl oxalate: Molecular precursor for microcrystalline barium titanate powders

An important molecular precursor to barium titanate, namely, barium titanyl oxalate [BaTiO(C2O4)2&middot4H2O], has been synthesized by an alternative route. An alcoholic solution containing 1 mol of butyl titanate monomer [(C4H9O)4Ti] is reacted with alcoholic solution containing 2 mol of oxalic acid (H2C2O4:2H2O) to form an intermediate soluble oxalotitanic acid [H2TiO(C2O4)2&middotnH2O]. The oxalotitanic acid in alcoholic medium is subjected to cation exchange reaction with aqueous solution containing equimolar barium acetate to form an insoluble barium titanyl oxalate (BTO) in yields of 80-85% at room temperature. The pyrolysis of BTO in air at T750 °C/5 h produced barium titanate (BT) powders.