Homogeneity and Properties of Lead Zirconate Titanate Prepared by a Combination of Thermal Spray Decomposition Method with Solid-Phase Reaction

A solution containing titanium and zirconium ions was spray decomposed. The product thus obtained was mixed with PbO powder and fired at high temperatures to obtain Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ (PZT). A phase of PZT began to form at a very low temperature (450°C). This formation reaction was complete at about 650°C. Reactivity of the spray-decomposed product with lead titanate powder was high. For PZT prepared by this process with a firing condition of 1100°C for 1 h, the compositional fluctuation was estimated from the width of the X-ray diffraction peaks. Fluctuations were about 3 at.%. This value agreed with that estimated from the range of the tetragonal-rhombohedral coexistence region near the morphotropic phase boundary. The peak of the dielectric constant near the Curie temperature was sharp and very high (ε∼12000).