Citrate route to the piezoelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 oxide

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Abstract
A homogeneous and stoichiometric Pb(Zr 1-x Ti x )O 3 (x=0.52; PZT) powder with a particle size of 20–40 nm has been prepared by the citrate route. Solubility isotherms have been calculated for metal–citric acid–water systems at 25 °C to predict the optimum pH condition, which was found to be pH=6.5 for preparing pure and stable citrate complexes. Monodispersive nanometer-sized particles could be obtained by thermal decomposition of the optimally prepared citrate precursor at a temperature as low as 800 °C. The crystallization process and particle characteristics of the citrate-derived PZT powder are described in detail along with the preliminary results on the sinterability and piezoelectricity.