Synthesis and characterization of PZT 52/48 ceramics without additives througt nanomertric powder

Lead zirconatetitanate solid solutions, Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 – PZT, are widely recognized for representing a special group of ferroelectric materials with various potential applications in electroceramics and (micro)electronic devices. The PZT ceramics is produced by solid state reaction (conventional route) and temperatures frequently above 1200 C. As a consequence, the cost of ceramic product is expensive. Herein, we present the synthesis and processing conditions of PZT52/48 (x = 0.48) ceramics in which it was possible to lower the sintering temperature down to around 900C. We have applied a route for PZT52/48 obtaining ferroelectric ceramics through sintering of nanometric powders prepared by the polymeric precursor synthesis method (modified Pechini’s method). The sintering was achieved with a temperature of 900oC for 2 hours and the samples got 96% of their theoretical density and 1.3 m mean grain size. The electrical permittivity of the ceramic plates, studied by impedance spectroscopy, presented Curie temperature around 390 oC. Ferroelectric hysteresis measurements revealed that the remnant polarization is 3.2 μC/cm2 and coercive field is 10 kV/cm at 60 Hz. All results and characterizations have shown that the PZT samples obtained with the polymeric route are efficient as the ones prepared in the conventional SSR protocol. Keywords: PZT nanometric powder, Low temperature sintering, Dielectric properties, Ferroelectric hysteresis