Crystallization kinetics and growth mechanism of Pb(Zr0.52·Ti0.48)O3 nanopowders

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2014, Vol.116 (1), p.179-183
• Main Authors: Khajelakzay, Mohammad, Taheri-Nassaj, Ehsan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Machines; Manufacturing; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-014-8406-3

In this study, Pb(Zr 0.52 ·Ti 0.48 )O 3 nanopowders were synthesized via sol–gel process. Particle morphology, crystalline phases and thermal behavior were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermal analyzer, respectively. The X-ray diffraction pattern showed perovskite phase clearly. The non-isothermal activation energy for the perovskite crystallization in Pb(Zr 0.52 ·Ti 0.48 )O 3 gel powders was 224.91 kJ mol −1 . Both growth morphology parameter ( n ) and crystallization mechanism index ( m ) are close to 3.0, indicating that the bulk nucleation is dominant in the perovskite PZT formation. To determine dielectric properties, the calcined Pb(Zr 0.52 ·Ti 0.48 )O 3 nanopowders were pressed using uniaxial press. It was found that the Pb(Zr 0.52 ·Ti 0.48 )O 3 disks, by sintering at 1,200 °C for 2 and 10 h, and at 1 kHz frequency, had 966 and 1,490 of the dielectric constant, respectively.