Synthesis and characterization of microwave processed PZT material

With a view to investigate the influence of microwave sintering on the structural and dielectric properties of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), the samples were prepared by citrate gel route. The well crystallized single phase perovskite PZT powders were obtained after calcination at 700 degrees C for 2 h. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern clearly indicates the formation of PZT material with single phase. FTIR and TG-DTA studies also confirmed the formation of PZT along with the reaction process involved in the synthesis. The crystallite sizes of the samples calcined at different temperatures were Calculated using Scherrer's formula and were compared with those obtained by the transmission electron microscope (TEM) technique. The surface morphological features of all the samples were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) while the chemical composition was obtained by an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS). The variation of dielectric constant and loss tangent with temperature and frequency of both the type of samples was also investigated and the observed behavior is explained qualitatively. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.