  Monodispersed strontium titanate nanoparticles were prepared and studied in
detail. It is found that ~10 nm as-prepared stoichiometric nanoparticles are in
a polar structural state (with possibly ferroelectric properties) over a broad
temperature range. A tetragonal structure, with possible reduction of the
electronic hybridization is found as the particle size is reduced. In the 10 nm
particles, no change in the local Ti-off centering is seen between 20 and 300
K. The results indicate that nanoscale motifs of SrTiO3 may be utilized in data
storage as assembled nano-particle arrays in applications where chemical
stability, temperature stability and low toxicity are critical issues.
