Lead zirconate nanotubes: synthesis, structural characterization and growth mechanism

This paper reports an experimental study on the synthesis and structural characterization of lead zirconate, PbZrO3, (PZ) nanotubes fabricated by an improved sol-gel method within the nanochannels of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The morphology, structure, and composition of the nanotubes were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), high resolution TEM (HRTEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results of XRD and SAED indicated that postannealed (700 degrees C for 1 h) PZ nanotubes had an orthorhombic distorted perovskite polycrystalline crystal. SEM and TEM analysis revealed that PZ nanotubes possessed a uniform length and diameter, which were controlled by the thickness and the pore diameter of the applied AAO template, respectively and the thickness of the wall of the PZ nanotubes was about 15 nm. Y-junctions were also observed in the PZ nanotubes. EDX analysis demonstrated that stoichiometric PbZrO3 was formed. HRTEM image and a typical SEM image confirmed that the obtained PZ nanotubes composed of nanoparticles in the range of 4-8 nm. The possible formation mechanism of nanotubes was discussed.