Blacklight sintering of BaTiO3 ceramics

Blacklight sintering has been used for rapid densification of ceramics. Compared to other methods, neither electrodes nor complex sample holders and dies are required, resulting in an effective technique for energy -efficient sintering. Still, the question remains whether excellent functional properties can be obtained by this method. Therefore, blacklight-sintered ferroelectric BaTiO3 was investigated. Gradient-free microstructures and phase purity could be reached. Enhanced electrical conductivity was determined, indicating changes in defect chemistry and, most likely, an increase in oxygen vacancy concentration. Furthermore, measurements of ferroelectric properties confirmed leaky ferroelectric behavior, with migration and pinning of oxygen vacancies affecting the polarization loops. An additional short annealing step in an oxygen-rich atmosphere led to di/ ferroelectric parameters equivalent to those of a conventionally sintered reference sample. Thus, the fabrication of ferroelectric ceramics by blacklight sintering is possible if the quenching effect caused by the freeze-in of defects during rapid cooling is considered.