Alkaline-earth perovskite oxide nanocrystals with the formula ABO3 (A = Li, Sr, Ba, Pb; B = Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta) and their corresponding solid solutions exhibit a wide range of properties that make them important functional materials in the areas of energy conversion and storage (dielectric spacers in ferroelectric capacitors, phosphors) and heterogeneous catalysis (supports for noble metals). Our group has developed a novel vapor diffusion sol-gel approach to the synthesis of perovskite oxide nanocrystals under ultrabenign conditions (atmospheric pressure, low temperature, and near neutral pH). The compositional flexibility of the method affords the preparation of sub-30 nm complex perovskite nanocrystals of arbitrary and well-defined stoichiometry. A comprehensive structural picture of perovskite oxide nanocrystals will be presented based on Rietveld and pair distribution function analysis of X-ray scattering data and Raman spectroscopy. This set of techniques allows for a fundamental understanding of the effect of spatial confinement on dipole-dipole cooperative interactions that play a critical role in energy storage applications. The ability of the vapor diffusion sol-gel method to provide compositional control of physical properties relevant to energy storage and the potential of perovskite nanocrystals as fillers in hybrid organic/inorganic nanocomposite capacitors will be demonstrated.

Low temperature synthesis of complex functional oxide nanocrystals for energy storage and conversion applications

246th National Meeting (2013)

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