Nanoferroelectric perovskite oxides with unusual morphology produced by different synthesis procedures

We report in the present paper some original results of a joint research performed in the framework of the COST Action 539 ELENA. In search of higher miniaturization of electroceramic devices a new outlook seems to arise from ceramics with unusual morphology that might present a new kind of toroidal or circular ferroelectric ordering of dipoles. Completely new perspectives in data storage can be expected if a close control of size confinement and dimensionality as well as of the chemical composition and the phase purity is reached. We succeeded in the fabrication of BaTiO3 hollow nanoparticles and nanowires, and Bi4Ti3O12 platelets. The use of soft chemistry and solid state methods allowed to produce coreshell powders and ferroelectric-ferromagnetic composites with completly new functional properties.