Piezoelectric and pyroelectric behavior of lead zirconate titanate-lead sulfide-glass nanocomposites

Composites containing micron-sized lead zirconate titanate and nanometer-si zed lead sulfide in a glass matrix were prepared using a sol-gel technique. The PbS size ranged from 3.5 to 15.3 nm. It was possible to pole some of t hese nanocomposites. The measured values of saturation polarization, remane nt polarization, and coercive field showed an increase as the PbS particle size was enhanced. The composites exhibited improvement in the piezoelectri c and pyroelectric behavior as compared to that of the base glass-ceramic.