Synthesis and humidity sensitive properties of nanocrystalline Ba1−xSrxTiO3 thick films

Nanocrystalline Ba1−xSrxTiO3 (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) precursors were synthesized using the stearic acid gel method. After the precursors had been calcined at 600–950°C for 0.5–1h, nanocrystalline powders with the cubic perovskite structure were obtained and these were made into thick films. The powder samples were characterized by differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and the thick film samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The humidity-sensitive properties of the nanocrystalline Ba1−xSrxTiO3 thick films were investigated. The results show that these nanocrystalline thick films possess higher humidity sensitivity and lower resistance than those of conventional materials.