Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline PZT powders: From sol to dense ceramics

In this study ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate PZT (0.523/0.477) nanocrystalline powders have been successfully synthesized by an alkoxide based sol-gel process. Crystallinity of the prepared ceramic powders was studied using X-ray diffractometer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were performed to study morphology of the calcined powders. EDX analysis was employed to demonstrate purity of the synthesized powders. Surface nature of the powders was studied by using FTIR\udtechnique. TGA/DTA analysis was employed to study thermal behaviour of powders. Spectroscopic techniques (FTIR and XRD) results indicated that the as-dried amorphous powders can be completely crystallized at 600 °C. In order to investigate the densification behaviour of the calcined powders, the crystalline PZT powders were pelletized into discs and sintered at various temperatures from 900 °C to 1150 °C, with a heating rate of 10 °C/min and holding time of 2 h to find the optimum combination of temperature and time to produce high density ceramics. Microstructural characterization was conducted on the fractured surface of the samples using SEM. It was found that the PZT ceramics calcined at 600 °C for 4 h then sintered at 1050 °C for 2 h had maximal density (98% of the theoretically density)