Studies of Sr2+ ion substitution on ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of PZT nanocrystalline

Estudos da substituição do íon Sr2+ nas propriedades ferroelétricas e piezoelétricas do PZT nanocristalino

Abstracts

Strontium substituted lead zirconate titanate nanocrystalline material with chemical formula Pb0.95Sr0.05 (Zr0.52Ti0.48) O3 have been synthesized by alkoxide based sol gel method. The product was characterized by differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The ferroelectric hysteresis loop measurement was carried out at room temperature using ferroelectric loop tracer over a field range of 20 kV/cm. The remanent polarization Pr, saturation polarization Pmax and coercive field Ec were 12.97 µC/cm², 30.52 µC/cm² and 6.5 kV/cm respectively. The piezoelectric coefficient d33 was measured with the variation of polling field.

ferroelectric properties; nanocrystallite; polarization; PSZT

O material nanocristalino titanato zirconato de chumbo com substituição por estrôncio de fórmula química Pb0,95Sr0,05 (Zr0,52Ti0,48) O3 foi sintetizado pelo método solgel baseado em alcóxidos. O produto foi caracterizado por análise térmica diferencial, análise termogravimétrica, difração de raios X e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A medida do loop de histerese ferroelétrica foi feita à temperatura ambiente com um traçador de loop na faixa até 20 kV/cm. A polarização remanente Pr, a polarização de saturação Pmax e o campo coercitivo Ec foram 12,97 µC/cm², 30,52 µC/cm² e 6,5 Kv/cm, respectivamente. O coeficiente piezoelétrico d33 foi medido em função do campo de polarização.

propriedades ferroelétricas; nanocristalito; polarização; PSZT

Studies of Sr²⁺ ion substitution on ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of PZT nanocrystalline

Estudos da substituição do íon Sr²⁺ nas propriedades ferroelétricas e piezoelétricas do PZT nanocristalino

P. Kour; S. K. Sinha

Department of Applied Physics, Birla Institute of Technology, Patna-800014

[e-mail], [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Strontium substituted lead zirconate titanate nanocrystalline material with chemical formula Pb_0.95Sr_0.05 (Zr_0.52Ti_0.48) O₃ have been synthesized by alkoxide based sol gel method. The product was characterized by differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The ferroelectric hysteresis loop measurement was carried out at room temperature using ferroelectric loop tracer over a field range of 20 kV/cm. The remanent polarization P_r, saturation polarization P_max and coercive field E_c were 12.97 µC/cm², 30.52 µC/cm² and 6.5 kV/cm respectively. The piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ was measured with the variation of polling field.

Keywords: ferroelectric properties, nanocrystallite, polarization, PSZT.

RESUMO

O material nanocristalino titanato zirconato de chumbo com substituição por estrôncio de fórmula química Pb_0,95Sr_0,05 (Zr_0,52Ti_0,48) O₃ foi sintetizado pelo método solgel baseado em alcóxidos. O produto foi caracterizado por análise térmica diferencial, análise termogravimétrica, difração de raios X e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A medida do loop de histerese ferroelétrica foi feita à temperatura ambiente com um traçador de loop na faixa até 20 kV/cm. A polarização remanente P_r, a polarização de saturação P_max e o campo coercitivo E_c foram 12,97 µC/cm², 30,52 µC/cm² e 6,5 Kv/cm, respectivamente. O coeficiente piezoelétrico d₃₃ foi medido em função do campo de polarização.

Palavras-chave: propriedades ferroelétricas, nanocristalito, polarização, PSZT.

INTRODUCTION

Ferroelectric materials have been intensively investigated in the last decades for their potential applications in a variety of electronics application; including non-volatile memories and MEMS devices [1-5]. The non-volatile ferroelectric random access memories have been drawn considerable interest in which the information is stored in the polarization states of ferroelectrics. PZT with stichometry formula Pb (Zr_0.52Ti_0.48) O₃ is reported to be near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) shows large remanent polarization, optimum piezoelectric property and high Curie temperature [6, 7]. The MPB is an almost temperature-independent phase boundary that separates two ferroelectric phases: a tetragonal crystal structure (P4mm) and a rhombohedral structure (R3c). Compositions near the MPB may have both of these phases coexisting to give a total of fourteen possible polarization directions (six tetragonal <001> and eight rhombohedral <111> in reference to the cubic prototype cell axes.

The possibilities of improving ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of ceramics by physico-chemical characteristics of precursors, additive type and proper selection of parameter of sintering process [8, 9]. By using different of types additive the properties of the PZT system can be changed. Donor and acceptor doping are used to obtain so-called ''soft" and ''hard'' PZT materials, respectively [10-16].There are several substitution of elements (La, Nd, etc.) on Pb side gives rise to hard and soft PZT. [16-18]. In the present paper the study was based on isovalent substitution of strontium on lead side of the PZT. Here the doping was done in the rhombohedral phase which haves order along [111] direction leads to a favourable piezoelectric properties [19].

The microstructure, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of strontium substituted lead zirconate titanate (PSZT) have been reported by various groups [23-27]. According to our knowledge there is no report on ferroelectric and piezoelectric property of the PSZT nanocrystallite in 15-16nm range. The objective of this paper is to investigate the influence of condition of the sol gel process on crystallite size and the effect of crystallite size on the ferroelectric and piezoelectric property of PZT doped with strontium (PSZT) at MPB i.e. Zr/Ti ≈ 52/48.

EXPERIMENTAL

A compositions with the general chemical formula Pb_0.95Sr_0.05(Zr_xTi_1-x)O₃ was prepared using sol gel processing routes, with x corresponding to different crystalline modifications of the ferroelectric phase: tetragonal (x=0.52), rhombohedral (x=0.48) [1]. 2-Methoxy ethanol (2-MOE) was used as the starting precursor. Lead (II)acetatetrihydrate (99.99% purity, Aldrich), zirconium (IV) isopropoxide (70 wt.% purity , Aldrich) and titanium (IV) isopropoxide (97% purity, Aldrich) were used as the starting reagents to prepare the precursor solution with stichometry Pb_0.95Sr_0.05(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ and strontium acetate (99% purity, Aldrich) was used as Sr source. The flow diagram for the preparation of PSZT gel is shown in the Fig. 1. 2-Methoxy ethanol mixed with acetyl acetone and stirred at room temperature for 0.5 h. Ti-isopropoxide was added to it while the temperature of the stirred solution was kept at 80 °C. After 1 h the Zr-isopropoxide was added to the heated stirred solution. After 1 h strontium acetate was added to it. Then lead acetate trihydrate was mixed with distilled water and added to the solution. Then it was refluxed at 80 °C for 3 h. At last 3 to 4 drops of nitric acid was added to it. The solution was again refluxed for 3 h at 80 °C. Then it was stirred room temperature to get slightly yellowish clear transparent sol. It was then heated and stirred at 80 °C to get the gelation of PSZT sol.

Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravicmetric analysis (TGA) of the green gel in a temperature range 100 °C-1000 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C/min was carried out to know the approximate calcination temperature. The phase purity and homogeneity of the obtained material was determined by powder X-ray diffractometry. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were performed at 2θ values ranging from 15° and 70° using Philips X-ray diffractometer with Ni-filtered Cukα radiation. The nanocrystalline PSZT calcined powder was granulating and mixed with polyvinylalchol (PVA, 5% aqueous solution) in a mortar and pestle. The mixed powder was compacted to circular discs of 12 mm in diameter and ~1.5 mm in thickness by uniaxial pressing machine at 200 MPa. The binder was removed by heating the pellet at 550 °C. Then binder burnout components were sintered at 1000 °C for 3 h in a hermetically sealed alumina crucible in a muffle furnace. The surface morphology of the sintered samples was analysed using scanning electron microscope (SEM, Jeol T330). Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) was used for elemental analysis of Sr doped PZT ceramics. The electroding of the sintered pellet was done by the silver paste. Then the sample was poled at varying polling field at an elevated temperature (~120 °C) for 2 h in silicon oil. The polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis measurement of poled PSZT pellet was done by Radiant Technology Hysteresis Analyser 4.4.0 at room temperature. The linear piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) of the polled pellet was measured by the Sinocera YE2730Ad₃₃ meter with the variation of polling field.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

DTA/TG characterization

Thermal analysis of the green gel of PSZT (5/52/48) was examined by thermo gravimetry and differential thermal analysis, shown in Fig. 2. The weight loss occurred in two steps and completed at 600 °C, as indicated by TGA curves. In the first stage weight loss was observed around 90 °C with an endothermic peak due to the removal of water molecules. In the second stage a small exothermic peak was observed around 300 °C due to the result of simultaneous decomposition of organic molecule. A large exothermic peak at 377 °C is ascribed to multiple decomposition. The percentage of weight loss at 600 °C and above was very small; hence calcination had been done at 600 °C for a soaking time 3 h.

XRD characterization

Fig. 3 shows the powder XRD pattern of PZT doped with strontium, PSZT (5/52/48).

The pattern shows a pure crystalline perovskite phase with no pyrochlore phase. The average crystallite size has been calculated using Scherrer formula and Williamson-Hall plot. Scherrer formula [20] is defined as

where the constant k depends upon the shape of the crystallite size (=0.89, assuming circular grains), β is the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of intensity (a.u.) vs. 2θ (degree) profile, λ is the wavelength of the Cuk_α radiation (=0.1542 nm), θ is Bragg diffraction angle and D is the average crystallite size. In Scherrer formula the average crystallite size has been calculated using Gaussian fit to the peaks in XRD pattern. D has been taken as average to all the peaks. Typical Williamson-Hall plot for PSZT (5/52/48) sample is displayed in Fig. 4. According to this method [21, 22] the individual contributions to the broadening of reflections can be expressed as

The strain effect on the crystallites is represented by 4ε.sinθ. Average crystallite sizes calculated by Scherrer formula were 16.16 nm and Williamson-Hall plot was 15.98 nm. The crystallite size obtained by Williamson-Hall method was less than those obtained by Scherrer formula. It was because the strain correction factor has been taken into account in case of Williamson-Hall method whereas it has not been taken into account in Scherrer's method.

SEM characterization

The scanning electron microscopy micrograph of PSZT (5/52/48) pellet sintered at 1000 °C for 8 h is shown in Fig. 5. Qualitatively it is observed that grains were uniformly distributed. The average grain size measured from the micrograph of the pellet is about 307.4 nm.

The EDX spectra of 5% Sr doped PZT pellet sintered at 1000 °C is shown in Fig. 6. The presence of constituent element in PSZT pellet is indicated by the peak of Pb, Zr, Ti, Sr and O. The top electrode of the pellet was made of Pt, which is an also peak appearing in Fig. 6. So it could be attested that the PSZT ceramic was formed.

Ferroelectric hysteresis (P-E loop) of the PSZT (5/52/48) pellet calcined at 1000 °C is presented in Fig. 7. The average remanent polarization, (׀+P_r ׀+׀-P_r׀)/2 of the PSZT pellet is 12.97 µC/cm². The average coercive field, (׀+E_C ׀+׀ -E_C ׀)/2 for PSZT pellet is 6.5 kV/cm. The saturation polarization (P_max) of the pellet is 30.52 µC/cm².

Fig. 8 shows the variation of piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) of PSZT (5/52/48) pellet with varying polling field. It is observed that with increasing the polling field, the piezoelectric co-efficient (d₃₃) increases. Maximum value of piezoelectric co-efficient (d₃₃) is 413×10^-12 C/N at 33 kV/cm polling field. With further increase in the polling field it remains almost same. It indicates the orientation of the domain reaches its final alignment here.

CONCLUSIONS

Nanocrystallite of PSZT (5/52/48) has been successfully synthesized by the sol gel process. The thermogravimetric curve of the green gel of PSZT (5/52/48) shows the percentage of weight loss at 600 °C and above it is very small. Hence calcinations have been done at 600 °C. The XRD of PSZT (5/52/48) powder shows the average crystallite size was in 15-16 nm range. The average grain size from SEM was also obtained in nano range. The piezoelectric and ferroelectric property enhance, due to the decrease in size of the average crystallite. Reasons for this could be related to processing and the control of grain boundary resistivity that lead to space-charge accumulation, which marks the size-effect response in the ferroelectric grains.

(Rec. 23/11/2011, Rev. 01/01/2012, 04/04/2012, Ac. 05/05/2012)

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  15 Apr 2013
• Date of issue
  Mar 2013

History

• Received
  23 Nov 2011
• Accepted
  05 May 2012
• Reviewed
  04 Apr 2012