Abstract Bulk structure and surface texture of BaTiO3 materials synthesized at low temperature using sol-gel technique have been investigated. The materials were produced by the pyrolysis of an xerogel precursor of the tentative formula BaTiO3-x(CH3COO)2x, which was prepared using 1:1 molar ratio of barium acetate and titanium oxyacetate solution. The present method avoids using alkali-metal hydroxides (as a hydrolyzing agent), and thus produces an alkali-metal free precursor. The decomposition course of the xerogel at the onset of formation of crystalline BaTiO3 was probed applying thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetery (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Xray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Results indicated that most of the precursor weight loss occurs below 400°C, with the formation of titania rich intermediates. However, it was not until the temperature reached ³600°C that well crystallized BaTiO3 was produced. The specific surface area and porosity were assessed for BaTiO3 produced at 600–1000°C using N2 adsorption at liquid N2 temperature.