Synthesis and characterization of sol-gel derived PZT nano powder

Single phase nanocrystalline lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powder of composition Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O3 has been prepared by sol-gel process by using lead acetate trihydrate, zirconium propoxide and titanium propoxide as lead, zirconium and titanium precursor materials respectively. XRD, FTIR and TGA/DTA techniques are used to characterize structural, vibrational and thermal changes involved during the formation of PZT nanocrystalline powder with tetragonal phase. XRD pattern exhibits the polycrystalline nature of the powder heat treated at 800 degrees C with preferential orientation of (110) plane. Simultaneous TGA/DTA studies of the gel powder show endothermic and exothermic peaks corresponding to weight loss at different temperatures and increase in weight between 750 degrees C and 800 degrees C which confirms the improvement in crystallization. IR transmittance spectra of the powders heat treated at 650 degrees C and 750 degrees C show the coexistence of rhombohedral and teragonal phases and above this temperature only teragonal phase exists.