Mechanochemical synthesis of complex ceramic oxides: a sustainable route to high-performance functional materials

Abstract

Abstract Ceramic materials play a vital role in advanced electronic, optical, and energy applications due to their unique structural and functional properties. This review focuses on the mechanochemical synthesis (MCS) of complex ceramic oxides such as BaTa₂O₆, MgTa₂O₆, and BaTiO₃, highlighting their advantages over conventional high-temperature synthesis methods. Mechanochemical synthesis, particularly through high-energy ball milling, enables the formation of phase-pure, nanostructured ceramics with improved dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties at significantly lower synthesis temperatures. The impact of milling time, annealing conditions, and precursor selection on the microstructure and properties of these ceramics is extensively discussed. Additionally, alternative synthesis routes, including co-precipitation, sol–gel, oxalate decomposition, and hydrothermal methods, are compared with mechanochemical techniques in terms of process simplicity, material homogeneity, and scalability. The effects of doping and compositional tailoring on dielectric behaviour, the role of real-time monitoring techniques in understanding mechanistic pathways, and the application potential of these ceramics in sensors, capacitors, actuators, and energy storage systems are also explored. Emphasis is placed on the sustainability of mechanochemical synthesis as a green synthesis approach and its capacity to produce defect-engineered, high-density materials with superior performance. This review underscores mechanochemistry as a cornerstone in modern ceramic synthesis, offering versatile, cost-effective, and scalable solutions for next-generation functional materials.