Supercritical Synthesis Boosts Nanoparticle Conductivity by 1,000 Times

Scientists have achieved a dramatic enhancement in the electronic properties of strontium titanate nanoparticles by employing a sophisticated one-step supercritical continuous solvothermal synthesis process. This method allows for precise control over the material's creation, utilising acetylacetonate and alkoxide precursors as cation sources.

The team successfully synthesised phase-pure nanoparticles featuring specific atomic modifications. By introducing rare-earth elements such as yttrium and neodymium, or transition metals like niobium and iron, they were able to create 'A-site-deficient' structures and modify the standard perovskite lattice. These alterations act as n- and p-type modifications, fundamentally changing how the material behaves at the atomic level.

The impact of these structural tweaks was substantial. When the nanoparticles were processed into dense pellets and tested at 1000 K, the electronic conductivity surged by up to 1,000 times compared to conventional strontium titanate, reaching 1 S cm^-1. This research highlights the versatility of acetylacetonate chemistry in producing tuned perovskite materials with vastly superior electronic performance.