Low-Temperature Preparation of Nanocrystalline Lead Zirconate Titanate and Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate Powders Using Triethanolamine

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Vol. 81; no. 12; pp. 3357 - 3360
• Main Authors: Das, Rabindra N., Pathak, Amita, Pramanik, Panchanan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Westerville, Ohio American Ceramics Society 01.12.1998; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Materials science; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Physics; Powders; Electrical properties; Lanthanum Zirconates; Dielectric properties; Lead Titanates; PZT; Experimental study; Physical properties; Powder; Curie temperature; Lanthanum Titanates; Chemical preparation; Lead Zirconates; Nanocrystal; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1998.tb02784.x

Nanocrystalline lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powders, with a Zr:Ti ratio of 60:40, have been prepared from a solution of triethanolamine (TEA) and Ti4+, Zr4+, and Pb2+ ions. The metal ions were in solution through complex formation with TEA. The soluble metal‐ion–TEA complex formed the precursor material when it was completely dehydrated. Heat treatment of the precursor at 450°C resulted in single‐phase PZT powders. The precursor and the heat‐treated powders have been characterized by using thermal analysis and X‐ray diffractometry (XRD) studies. The average particle size, as measured from X‐ray line broadening and transmission electron microscopy studies, was ∼20 nm. PZT powders modified with 3 mol% of lanthanum (PLZT) also were prepared through this route and were investigated via XRD studies. The dielectric constants of the PZT and PLZT powders were 12475 and 11262, and their corresponding Curie temperatures were 362° and 315°C, respectively.