Fabrication of BaTiO3/Ni composite particles and their electro-magneto responsive properties

BaTiO 3 (BT)/Ni composite particles were made by one-step method through agglomerating the metal Ni(0) nanoparticles reduced by a specific reducing agent (N 2 H 4 ·H 2 O) on the surface of BT sphere with diameter of ∼500   nm. The BT/Ni composite particles were characterized by the means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In BT/Ni particles, pure BT spherical particle was coated with Ni nanoparticles agglomerated on its surface. The average thickness of the Ni sheath was ∼30   nm and the content of Ni(0) and Ni (II) in the sheath were 70.2% and 29.8%, respectively. The responsive effects of BT/Ni particles filled in hydrogel elastomer were investigated by the viscoelastic properties. The results indicate that the BT/Ni particles exhibit electro and magneto coordinated responsive properties (E   =   1   kV/mm, H   =   0.1   T/mm), which is superior to BT particles with individual electro response.