Processing and Characterization of Lead Zirconate Titanate Nanopowders by a Simple Water‐Based Sol–Gel Method

Abstract

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanopowders with high sintering activity were synthesized from economical raw materials by a simple water‐based sol–gel method. Citric acid was used to complex with the metal cations, and the effect of the molar ratio of citric acid to metal cation (C:M) was investigated. The decomposition of the dried gel and the phase formation process of the PZT powders were investigated using thermal analysis, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. The average particle size of the PZT powders was 13 nm after calcination at 600°C for 3 h, as determined by transmission electron microscope. The nanopowders prepared could be sintered at a temperature as low as 900°C, and dense PZT ceramics of pure perovskite phase were obtained. The electric properties of the ceramics derived from nanopowders were compared with those prepared by the solid‐state method. The results show that due to larger c/a ratio and small grain size, the electric properties are enhanced.

Nanoparticles of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) used as ferroelectric ceramics produced by sol–gel acetic-acid route

“…Nanoparticles exhibit narrow distribution and are almost spherical in shape. [2, 3,8,17]. Particle sizes observed by TEM agree with the significant broadening of peaks in Fig.…”

“…PZT possesses the highest coupling coefficient between its electrical and mechanical properties. A phase diagram of PZT shows that at molar ratio fraction values between 0.4 and 0.6 of PbTiO 3 there exists a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) [1][2][3], which has been related to compositional homogeneity and sample processing setting [3][4][5]. PZT thin films prepared from ferroelectric materials have attracted attention with reference to their application in memory devices, electro-optic devices, sensors, actuators, etc.…”

“…Several methods have been investigated to prepare PZT nanoparticles (PZT-NPs), such as: hydrothermal [3,13], sol-gel combustion [14][15][16], co-precipitation [17], electrohydro-dynamic atomization [18,19] and sol-gel [2, 20,21]. The sol-gel method is a process used in preparing materials for example nanoparticles, films, and bulk forms [21][22][23].…”

Effect of particle size on the optical properties of lead zirconate titanate nanopowders

“…The fabrication of PZT nanopowders was reported by various methods such as hydroxide co‐precipitation, focused ion beam, polyol auto‐combustion, microwave hydrothermal, milling co‐precipitation, electro‐hydrodynamic atomization, and sol‐gel methods …”

“…Influence of pHdependent ion leaching on the processing of PZT ceramics was studied by Bakaric et al 22 The effects of dispersant concentration and pH on properties of PZT aqueous suspension were studied by Suntako et al 23 The fabrication of PZT nanopowders was reported by various methods such as hydroxide co-precipitation, 24 focused ion beam, 25 polyol auto-combustion, 26 microwave hydrothermal, 27 milling co-precipitation, 28 electro-hydrodynamic atomization, 29 and sol-gel methods. [30][31][32] In this work, Pb 1.1 (Zr 0.52 Ti 0.48 )O 3 nanopowders were synthesized using the sol-gel method at different pHs. Influence of pH values on the longitudinal optical (LO), transverse optical (TO) phonon modes, LO-TO splitting, refractive index n(x), extinction coefficient k(x), the real ɛ 1 (x) and imaginary ɛ 2 (x) parts of dielectric function was discussed.…”