Synthesis and characterization of Nb-doped PZT ferro-piezoelectric ceramics

Niobium-doped lead titanate-zirconate ferro-piezoceramics were obtained and evaluated. Material preparation was performed by means of the traditional ceramic method: oxide mixing, calcination, sintering and poling. Precautions to avoid lead oxide evaporation during sintering are described. The resulting material was found to be single-phase tetragonal perovskite PbTxZr1-xO3(x similar to 0.5). Chemical and structural analysis of the resulting samples were carried out using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. Rietveld refinement was applied to determine details of crystal structure. Piezoelectric coupling factors were evaluated by means of IEEE equivalent-circuit standards. Experimentally obtained electromechanical parameters were within accepted ranges and satisfactorily corresponded to structural results.