Evaluation of low-temperature processing of lead zirconate titanate (53/47) ceramics derived from 1-propanol-based sol-gel stock solutions

Nanoscale technology will lead to the next material revolution, particularly in terms of sol-gel method assembly in nanostructured devices. In this research, PbZr_0.53Ti_0.47O₃ (PZT) ceramics with gel powder synthesized by the chemical solution deposition (CSD) method utilizing less hazardous propyl alcohol as a solvent were developed. The PZT solutions were transparent and no precipitates were formed with a reflux time ratio of Pb : Zr : Ti = 2 : 1 : 2, and the composition similar to PbZr _0.53Ti_0.47O₃. Differential Thermal Analysis and Thermogravimetry (DTA/TG) analyzed mass fluctuations of the gel powders. Altering the firing conditions, X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation of the crystal phase and domain microstructure observation by transmission emission microscopy (TEM), were carried out. From the analysis results, the PZT ceramic calcinations at 900°C for 30 min, and sintering at 1100°C for 2 h had uniform grain size distribution; furthermore, the sample was found to possess piezoelectric properties. In this study the processing temperatures scaling down by 100°C-200°C compared to the solid-state reaction.