Structural, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of aluminium doped PLZT ceramics prepared by sol-gel route

Nanosized piezoelectric ceramics for vibration sensor applications have been prepared by mixing the ferroelectric PLZT (8:60:40) with variable doping fractions of trivalent aluminium ion (Al3+). Samples have been prepared through a standard sol-gel route. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been used to determine the phase and morphological modifications. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies reveal the microstructure with nanosized well-dispersed homogeneous spherical particles. The vibrational infra-red (IR) spectroscopy record is taken to locate the position of the doping Al3+ ion. Using electrical impedance spectroscopy, the resonance and anti-resonance frequencies of the Al modified PLZT system have been determined and analysed. Al addition in PLZT has left a profound effect in its dielectric and piezoelectric properties. An interpretation of the role of Al addition is proposed in terms of structure modification. The sensing power of the investigated material was found useful for the vibration control of a cantilever beam. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.