Microstructure and Piezoelectric Properties of Lead Zirconate Titanate Nanocomposites Reinforced with In-Situ Formed ZrO(2) Nanoparticles

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-based ceramics are used in numerous advanced applications, including sensors, displays, actuators, resonators, chips; however, the poor mechanical characteristics of these materials severely limits their utility in composite materials. To address this issue, we herein fabricate transgranular type PZT ceramic nanocomposites by a novel method. Thermodynamically metastable single perovskite-type Pb(0.99)(Zr(0.52+x)Ti(0.48))(0.98)Nb(0.02)O(3+1.96x) powders are prepared from a citrate precursor before both monoclinic and tetragonal ZrO(2) nanoparticles ranging from 20 to 80 nm are precipitated in situ at a sintering temperature of 1260 °C. The effects of ZrO(2) content on the microstructure, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties are investigated and the mechanism, by which ZrO(2) toughened PZT is analyzed in detail. The ZrO(2) nanoparticles underwent a tetragonal to monoclinic phase transition upon cooling. The fracture mode changed from intergranular to transgranular with increasing ZrO(2) content. The incorporation of ZrO(2) nanoparticles improved the mechanical and piezoelectric properties. The optimized piezoelectric properties (ε(T)(33)/ε(0) = 1398, tan δ = 0.024 d(33) = 354 pC N(−1), k(p) = 0.66 Q(m) = 78) are obtained when x = 0.02. T(c) initially increased and subsequently decreased with increasing ZrO(2) content. The highest T(c) = (387 °C) and lowest ε(T)(33)/ε(0) was obtained at x = 0.01.