Effect of sintering temperature and time on densification, microstructure and properties of the PZT/ZnO nanowhisker piezoelectric composites

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2011-06, Vol.509 (24), p.6980-6986
• Main Authors: Wang, Da-Wei, Cao, Mao-Sheng, Yuan, Jie, Lu, Ran, Li, Hong-Bo, Lin, Hai-Bo, Zhao, Quan-Liang, Zhang, De-Qing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Composite materials; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Densification; Dielectric properties of solids and liquids; Dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric and antiferroelectric materials; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Exact sciences and technology; Lead zirconate titanates; Microstructure; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Niobates, titanates, tantalates, pzt ceramics, etc; Permittivity (dielectric function); Physics; Piezoelectricity; Piezoelectricity and electromechanical effects; PZT; Sintering
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2011.03.186

► The increase of sintering temperature and time enhances the grain growth, densification and electrical properties of the PZT/ZnO w composites in effect. ► The PZT/ZnO w composites with 2 wt.% ZnO w sintered at 1150 °C for 2 h shows the optimal density and electrical properties. ► The temperature and time stability of the PZT/ZnO w composites are quite good, suggesting that the new PZT/ZnO w composites are promising candidates for practical applications. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) based piezoelectric composites embedded with ZnO nanowhiskers (ZnO w) were investigated to clarify the optimal sintering condition for densification, microstructure, and electrical properties. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the increase of the sintering temperature and time is quite effective in improving the densification and piezoelectric properties of the PZT/ZnO w composites. However, the relative density and piezoelectric properties deteriorate as the composites are sintered over the optimal sintering condition. Particularly, the PZT/ZnO w composites sintered at 1150 °C for 2 h show excellent electrical properties of piezoelectric constant d 33 ∼ 471 pC/N, relative dielectric constant ɛ ∼ 3838, planar electromechanical coupling factor k p ∼ 0.543, remnant polarization P r ∼ 23.2 μC/cm 2 and coercive field E c ∼ 9.2 kV/cm.