Improved sintering activity and piezoelectric properties of PZT ceramics from hydrothermally synthesized powders with Pb excess

Abstract

In this work, Pb(Zr, Ti)O 3 (PZT) powders were prepared by traditional hydrothermal method and solid state reaction. Subsequently, PZT ceramics were sintered and their electric properties (including piezoelectric coefficient d 33 , electromechanical coupling coefficient k p and mechanical quality factor Q m ) as a function of sintering temperature (1125-1250°C) were comparably studied. Given that the Pb deficiency may exist in the hydrothermally synthesized PZT powders, effects of Pb excess (0, 20 and 80 mol%) in the hydrothermal precursor on their sinterability were also involved. The hydrothermally synthesized PZT powders with 80 mol% Pb excess showed the highest sintering activity, and their electric properties peaked at 1175°C (d 33 = 225 pC/N, k p = 0.446, Q m = 300). It's demonstrated that A-site deficiency may degrade the sintering activity of PZT powders, and hydrothermal synthesis of PZT powders with appropriate Pb excess was the compromising pathway to increase their sinterability, decrease the sintering temperature and lessen the volatilization of Pb ion in the fabrication of widely applied PZT ceramic.

Structure and electrical properties of BCZT ceramics derived from microwave-assisted sol–gel-hydrothermal synthesized powders

“…As shown in the EDS spectrums, all elements belonging to BCZT ceramics are uniformly distributed throughout the observed www.nature.com/scientificreports/ area, without any significant element enrichment areas. Compared with solid-state reaction and sol-gel derived BCZT ceramics, MSGH derived BCZT ceramics have a lower sintering temperature (1400 °C) than those in the related reports (1450-1600 °C) 7,[31][32][33] , which may be attributed to the high activity of BCZT powders prepared by MSGH 34,35 . Figure 8a shows the temperature vs. dielectric constant (ε r ) for BCZT ceramics measured at 1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz and 1000 kHz, respectively.…”

Enhanced electromechanical coupling in Pb(ZrTi)O3 piezoelectric composite via poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) clamping

“…Attractively, in a PZT/P(VDF‐TrFE) sheet with 17 PZT columns with a thickness of 1.5 mm, f s and f p are 1.296 kHz and 938.07 kHz, respectively, and k t is calculated to a considerable value of 0.725, as illustrated in Figure 8F. Compared to PZT columns in literature, 6–9,27–30 the value of k t (0.725) of the PZT/P(VDF‐TrFE) piezoelectric sheet has been largely improved. Thus, the large k t corresponds to high sensitivity and transmission efficiency, which indicates this 1–3 PZT/P(VDF‐TrFE) sheet is anticipated to be applied in high‐precision energy‐transferring devices.…”

“…Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramics, which boast a substantial coupling coefficient (k t = 0.52), stand as a quintessential example of high-performing piezoelectric materials. [6][7][8][9] PZT, with its ABO 3À type perovskite structure, denoted chemically as Pb(ZrTi)O 3 , comprises a ferroelectric phase, PbTiO 3 , and an antiferroelectric phase, PbZrO 3 , exhibiting exceptional piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling capabilities, surpassing those of BaTiO 3 -based ceramics. 10 Recent advancements by Zhou et al 11 have led to the development of 1-3 type PZT-43/ epoxy piezoelectric composites through an innovative dice-filling technique, demonstrating remarkable stability in k t value across a broad temperature range from À30 C to 100 C, with a fluctuation rate below 3%.…”

“…In the fabrication of 1‐3 type piezoelectric composites, the selection of piezoelectric and polymer phases is critical and varies based on the intended application, with a priority placed on achieving a uniform distribution of piezoelectric ceramics within the polymer matrix. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramics, which boast a substantial coupling coefficient ( k t = 0.52), stand as a quintessential example of high‐performing piezoelectric materials 6–9 . PZT, with its ABO 3− type perovskite structure, denoted chemically as Pb(ZrTi)O 3 , comprises a ferroelectric phase, PbTiO 3 , and an antiferroelectric phase, PbZrO 3 , exhibiting exceptional piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling capabilities, surpassing those of BaTiO 3 ‐based ceramics 10 .…”

Perovskite Oxides Prepared by Hydrothermal and Solvothermal Synthesis: A Review of Crystallisation, Chemistry, and Compositions

“…Bian et al concluded that that A-site deficiency may degrade the sinterability of PZT powders, and showed how hydrothermal synthesis of PZT powders with appropriate Pb excess was a useful method to increase sinterability, lower sintering temperature and lessen the loss of Pb by volatilisation during the fabrication of ceramics. [89] Datta et al produced nanoparticles of PZT by pulsed laser deposition on a strontium titanate substrate and then by hydrothermal treatment converted these to hierarchically ordered surface structures to allow the fabrication of capacitors with symmetric ferroelectric hysteresis loops and a high remnant polarisation, Figure 10. [90] Takada et al formed plate-like particles using oleic acid as a solution additive and then could align these on a substrate to give a layer that was conveniently annealed into a film at low temperature (600 C) and from which local piezoelectric properties were measured via piezoresponse force microscopy.…”