Synthesis of hyperbranched perovskite nanostructures

Complex functional perovskite oxides find use in a wide range of applications as dielectric, electronic, photocatalytic, optical, and ion-conducting materials. The ability to synthesize perovskites in hierarchical structures can allow for new properties or phenomena not observable in bulk morphologies. Herein we report on the solution-phase synthesis of cubic perovskite potassium lanthanum titanate into orthogonal nanostructures with hyperbranched and hexapod morphology through a facile hydrothermal synthesis without using a template, catalyst, substrate, or structure-directing agent. A systematic study of the reaction conditions and role of precursors was performed and a growth mechanism based on homogeneous dissolution-precipitation was determined.