Preparation of multi-coating PZT thick films by sol-gel method onto stainless steel substrates

PbZr0.45Ti0.55O3 ferroelectric films have been prepared by sol-gel method, using alkoxide precursor compounds and multi-layer technique. The gel films were deposited by spin-coating onto stainless steel substrates. In order t o obtain crystallization in the perovskite phase, the samples were annealed at 600-700 degrees C for 1 min. The dependence of the electric properties on the heat-treatment temperature is studied, and the coercive electric fie ld as a function of the material thickness is determined. By SEM photograph y, the microstructure of the films could be shown to be homogeneous. (C) 20 00 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.