The solid solutions of Ba-doped SrBi2Ta2O9 layered perovskite ceramic powders have been successfully prepared via a two-step process using BiTaO4 as a precursor. The lattice constants of the solid solutions monotonically increase with increasing barium-ion content. The sinterability of (Sr1-xBax) Bi2Ta2O9 powders is significantly improved by increasing the barium-ion content. When the specimens with high barium-ion contents are sintered at 1100degreesC, they thermally decompose to form rod-like grains and the matrix expands, leading to a lower density. The addition of barium ions to SrBi2Ta2O9 also results in significant variation in the morphology of the sintered specimens and the occurrence of c-axis preferred orientation which is ascribed to the anisotropic growth of plate-like grains. The precise control of the barium-ion content as well as the sintering conditions is critical for obtaining densified barium-ion doped SrBi2Ta2O9 ceramics with a pure, layered perovskite structure. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.