Properties of nanocrystalline ferroelectric PZT ceramics

Amorphous nanopowders of Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O-3 (PZT) solid solution were obtain ed by sol-gel processing. As-obtained nanopowders ((r) over bar approximate to 30 x 10(-9) m) underwent consolidation by conventional ceramic sinterin g, hot pressing, and rapid thermal annealing. As result of such technologic al methods PZT ferroelectric ceramic samples were obtained. They exhibited lack of voids, density close to the theoretical X-ray density, homogeneity from both chemical and physical point of view and stoichiometric chemical c omposition. It was found that each ceramic sample was a conglomerate of gra ins exhibiting mean dimension (r) over bar =0.3-3 x 10(-6) m depending on s intering conditions. The nanocrystalline structure of the ceramics grains h as been revealed. Dimension of the crystallites ((D) over bar = 20-75 x 10- 10(-9) m) were found to depend on temperature (T-S) and the rate of sinteri ng (nu (T)) of the amorphous nanopowders. Dielectric and piezoelectric prop erties of nanocrystalline PZT ceramics depended on both sol-gel processing conditions and sintering conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.