Patent ID: 7993611

Claim:
A method of forming a ceramic powder, with a formula of (Ba 1-α-μ-v A μ D v Ca α )[Ti 1-x-δ-μ′-v′ Mn δ A′ μ′ D′ v′ Zr x ] z O 3 , where A=Ag or La, A′=Dy, Er, Ho, Y, Yb, or Ga; D=Nd, Pr, Sm, or Gd; D′=Nb or Mo, 0.10≦x≦0.25; 0≦μ≦0.01, 0≦μ′≦0.01, 0≦v≦0.01, 0≦v′≦0.01, 0≦δ≦0.01, 0.995≦z≦1, and 0≦α≦0.005 the method comprising: providing a plurality of precursor materials in solution, wherein each of the plurality of precursor materials in solution further comprises at least one constituent ionic species of the ceramic powder, a first precursor material of the plurality of precursor materials comprising barium nitrate, a second precursor material of the plurality of precursor materials comprising a titanium chelate, a third precursor material of the plurality of precursor materials being a metal chelate comprising a metal ion or oxometal ion and a chelating agent, the chelating agent being 2-hydroxypropanoic acid or an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-hydroxybutanedioic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid, 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxybutanoic acid, 2-hydroxypentanoic acid, and 2-hydroxyhexanoic acid; combining the plurality of precursor materials in solution with an ammonium oxalate precipitant solution to cause co-precipitation of particles of the ceramic powder in a combined solution at a temperature from 85 to 90° C., the particles including barium, titanium, and the metal ion or oxometal ion; and separating the particles of the ceramic powder from the combined solution; calcining the particles of the ceramic powder to form composition-modified barium titanate having a perovskite structure.