Characterization of ZrO₂/PZT Nanocomposites Ceramics Prepared by the Citrate Precursor Route

Abstract

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-based nanocomposites embedded with ZrO2 nanoparticles were fabricated by citrate precursor route from metastable phases in situ. The effect of ZrO2 content on mechanical and piezoelectric properties of composites was investigated. m-ZrO2 particles covering 30-70 nm are dispersed homogenously inside the PZT matrix grain with stress strips around m-ZrO2 nanoparticles. The fracture mode changes from intergranular to intragranular with increasing the amount of ZrO2. Transformation toughening and nanoparticle dispersion toughening of ZrO2 contributed to the reinforcement of the PZT/ZrO2 nanocomposites. It is exciting to found that the mechanical properties as well as the piezoelectric properties were both increased compared with those of monolithic PZT when add a certain amount of ZrO2.

Microstructure and Piezoelectric Properties of Lead Zirconate Titanate Nanocomposites Reinforced with In-Situ Formed ZrO2 Nanoparticles

“…Additionally, PZT powder synthesized via a solid-phase reaction typically contains large agglomerates and exhibits low sinterability. The modified B-site precursor method adopted in this study overcame these shortcomings and enabled the preparation of monophasic ZT solid solutions with various Z/T ratios [20,21]. The synthesis of perovskite-type PZT powder is typically achieved by a solid-phase reaction; however, intermediate reactions and PbO volatilization tend to occur during this process.…”

“…Additionally, PZT powder synthesized via a solid-phase reaction typically contains large agglomerates and exhibits low sinterability. The modified B-site precursor method adopted in this study overcame these shortcomings and enabled the preparation of monophasic ZT solid solutions with various Z/T ratios [20,21].…”

“…Conventional fabrication techniques typically produce ceramics having coarse and agglomerated particles with a broad particle size distribution resulting in compositional fluctuations and structural inhomogeneities. PZT synthesized via the polymeric precursor method exhibits few compositional fluctuations and very fine monophasic particles with high surface area and crystallinity [20,21].…”