Lead zirconate titanate

About: Lead zirconate titanate is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7141 publications have been published within this topic receiving 150878 citations.

Preparation and ferroelectric properties of PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 thin films by spin coating and metalorganic decomposition

Abstract: Films with a composition PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 were prepared on different platinum bottom electrodes using a spin‐coating process followed by metalorganic decomposition. The film morphology and structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and x‐ray diffraction analysis. The morphology was strongly influenced by the heat cycle used to form the PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 layer. Fast heating and high‐fire temperatures produced smooth films, while slow heating and low‐fire temperatures gave films having a rosette perovskite phase and an inter‐rosette second phase. The films were characterized electrically by measuring hysteresis loops and capacitance and conductance versus bias voltage and by pulse‐switching measurements. The dependence of the switched and nonswitched polarization on the number of switching cycles (i.e., the fatigue behavior) is found to be much better for fast‐heated than for slowly heated films. Switching lifetimes exceeding 1011 cycles were measured. The type of platinum bottom electrode used was found to have a large influence on the ferroelectric properties of the lead zirconate titanate films.

Effects of addition of MnO on piezoelectric properties of lead zirconate titanate

Abstract: The effects of manganese addition on the piezoelectric properties, microstructure, sintering characteristic and Curie temperature have been studied for Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) ceramics. The valence states of manganese are measured by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR). Those studies show that manganese coexist mainly in the way of Mn2+ and Mn3+ in PZT ceramics. When the concentration of Mn ion is below 0.5 mole%, it is preferentially incorporated in the lattice Pb site in Mn2+ or Mn3+, which gives rise to the increase of Kp and d33. In the intermediate concentration region of 0.5–1.5 mole%, Mn ion will be incorporated in the lattice of (Ti, Zr) site in Mn3+ acted as acceptor, which increases Qm without causing large changes of Kp and d33. When the concentration of Mn ion is larger than 1.5 mole%, it will accumulate at the grain boundaries and give rise to the decrease of piezoelectric properties of PZT ceramics. Small amount of Fe may decrease the solubility limit of Mn ion in PZT ceramics and it may also prevent the oxidation of Mn2+ and Mn3+.

Enlarging photovoltaic effect: combination of classic photoelectric and ferroelectric photovoltaic effects

Abstract: Converting light energy to electrical energy in photovoltaic devices relies on the photogenerated electrons and holes separated by the built-in potential in semiconductors. Photo-excited electrons in metal electrodes are usually not considered in this process. Here, we report an enhanced photovoltaic effect in the ferroelectric lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) by using low work function metals as the electrodes. We believe that electrons in the metal with low work function could be photo-emitted into PLZT and form the dominant photocurrent in our devices. Under AM1.5 (100 mW/cm²) illumination, the short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of Mg/PLZT/ITO are about 150 and 2 times of those of Pt/PLZT/ITO, respectively. The photovoltaic response of PLZT capacitor was expanded from ultraviolet to visible spectra, and it may have important impact on design and fabrication of high performance photovoltaic devices based on ferroelectric materials.

Lead-free piezoelectrics: Current status and perspectives

Abstract: In the last few years, there has been tremendous effort to develop lead-free ferroelectric ceramics with high piezoelectric properties by various doping and alloying routes. Several material systems have been explored, however, no prominent alternative to the versatile lead zirconate titanate (PZT) system has been found yet. Despite the achieved improvement in piezoelectric properties, there are problems in the synthesis, processing and poling of the sintered ceramics. Various processing techniques including microwave, hydrothermal, sol–gel, Pechini and spark plasma sintering have been used to overcome the drawbacks related to synthesis issues. In this paper, an attempt is made to review recent developments on lead-free piezo materials emphasizing their preparation, structure–property relations, and consequent physical properties. In this context, both compositional and structural engineering approaches to achieve acceptable piezoelectric properties in lead-free materials are discussed. Piezoelectric properties of the most promising lead-free compositions/families including titanates, alkaline niobates and bismuth perovskites and their solid solutions, along with non-perovskites such as bismuth layer-structured ferroelectrics are reviewed in detail. A brief coverage of the recent developments in the area of piezoelectric energy harvesting is also encompassed.

Fabrication and Electrical Properties of Lead Zirconate Titanate Thick Films

Abstract: Thick films of lead zirconate titanate of the morphotropic phase boundary composition, Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3, have been fabricated on platinum-buffered silicon using a modified sol–gel spin-coating technique. Crack-free films of 12-μm thickness can be uniformly deposited on 3-in.-diameter wafers with high yield and properties comparable to those of bulk ceramics. The thickness dependence of film structure and the dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties have been characterized over the thickness range of 1–12 μm. A strong (100) texture develops as film thickness increases above 5 μm; the films were marked by saturation values of longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient d33, 340 pC/N; remanent polarization, 27 μC/cm2; and dielectric permittivity, 1450. PZT films in this thickness range are extremely well-suited to application as electromechanical transduction media in silicon-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).