PZT Composite Film Preparation and Characterization Using a Method of Sol-Gel and Electrohydrodynamic Jet Printing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Ceramic Engineering

Background:

• Lead zircon titanate (PZT) is a crucial material for piezoelectric applications.
• Existing fabrication methods for PZT films often face challenges with defect control and property optimization.
• Developing advanced PZT composite films is essential for next-generation micro-nano devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel hybrid fabrication method for PZT composite films.
• To investigate the structural and electrical properties of the fabricated PZT composite films.
• To demonstrate the advantages of the hybrid method over conventional techniques.

Main Methods:

• A hybrid approach combining sol-gel and electrohydrodynamic jet (E-jet) printing was employed.
• PZT thin films were prepared using the sol-gel method on Ti/Pt electrodes.
• PZT thick films were subsequently printed onto the thin films using E-jet printing to form composite structures.

Main Results:

• PZT composite films exhibited fewer micro-pore defects compared to single E-jet printed films.
• Improved bonding with electrodes and higher preferred crystal orientation were observed.
• Significantly enhanced piezoelectric properties (max 69.4 pC/N), dielectric properties (max 827), and reduced leakage current (1.5 × 10^-6A at 200V) were achieved.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid sol-gel and E-jet printing method offers a viable route for fabricating high-performance PZT composite films.
• This method overcomes limitations of single-step processes, leading to improved material quality and device performance.
• The developed PZT composite films are highly suitable for applications in micro-nano devices.