Comparing the piezo, pyro and dielectric properties of PZT particles synthesized by sol-gel and electrospinning methods

Two different kinds of Lead Zirconate Titanate (Pb (Zr-0.52, Ti-0.48) O-3, PZT) particles (PZT-Ps) were synthesized from a precursor solution composed of Zirconium n-propoxide, Titanium isopropoxide and Lead 2-ethylhexanoate and polyvinyl pyrolidone polymer based on a sol-gel method. Prepared sol was either dried called PZT dried particles (PZT-D-Ps) after calcination and ball milling, or it was electrospun into nanofibers and it was named PZT nanofibers particles (PZT-Nf-Ps) again after calcination and ball milling. Perovskite phase formation in two kinds of PZT-Ps was investigated after calcination at various temperatures (550, 650 and 750 degrees C for 2h) and finally they were ball milled to particles. Crystallography of PZT-Ps was investigated by Fourier Transform Inferred spectroscopy (FTIR) beside X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, and their morphology was observed using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Size distribution of synthesized PZT-Ps was determined by Dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. Piezoelectric coefficient (d(33)) and dielectric constant (K) of PZT-Ps were measured and their other piezoelectric constants, such as piezoelectric voltage coefficient (g(33)) and figure of merit (FOM) were calculated. Finally, the pyroelectric properties of PZT-Ps were determined by changing their temperature suddenly from 0 to 100 degrees C. Results showed that the diameter of PZT-Ps through two methods i.e. PZT-D-Ps and PZT-Nf-Ps were about 532nm and 230nm respectively. After calcination at 550 degrees C, both crystalline phase i.e. perovskite and pyrochlore were present in all synthesized PZT-Ps simultaneously. With increasing the temperature to 650 degrees C then 750 degrees C, the pyrochlore phase was eliminated and the perovskite crystal phase was intensified gradually. Interestingly for PZT-Nf-Ps, the intensity of the perovskite phase was higher than PZT-D-Ps. Dielectric constants for PZT-Nf-Ps and PZT-D-Ps were about 2487 and 2011 respectively. Obtained piezoelectric coefficient and piezoelectric voltage coefficients of PZT-Nf-Ps (104x10(-12)C/N, 0.4725x10(-3)Vm/N) were achieved almost twice as much as PZT-D-Ps (48x10(-12)C/N, 0.2699x10(-3)Vm/N) and the pyroelectric coefficient of PZT-Nf-Ps (4.3Cm(-2)k(-1)) was also higher than PZT-D-Ps (3.7Cm(-2)k(-1)).