X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) studies were carried out on wet-chemically synthesized cubic BaTiO3, Ba0.9Nd0.1TiO3 and BaTi0.9Fe0.1O3 delta powders. The compounds were prepared by hydrothermal and gel to crystallite conversion technique; and phases formed readily at 420 K. The phase purity of the powders was confirmed from X-ray diffractometry. Chemical state and chemical environment of the constituent elements in the compositions were examined by XPS. Ba2+ was found to exist in two different chemical environments in these titanates. The Ti 2p(3/2) photoelectron peak in BaTi0.9Fe0.1O3 delta was found to be broadened after Fe3+ substitution. Any resolvable broadening was not observed distinctly in the Ti 2p peak for Ba0.9Nd0.1TiO3, unsintered BaTiO3 and BaTiO3 annealed in hydrogen (8% H-2 + Ar) at 1000 K. The prevalence of mixed-valent titanium and iron in BaTi0.9Fe0.1O3 delta composition was evident from the XPS results and was further supported by the enhanced electrical conductivity at 298-550 K for BaTi0.9Fe0.1O3 delta in comparison to BaTiO3 and Ba0.9Nd0.1TiO3. Hydroxyl incorporation was facilitated by substituting Nd3+ in Ba-sublattice. The presence of hydroxyls was observed from the broadening of the O 1s peak in XPS studies of the compounds. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.