Abstract:
The present work is based upon processing & characterization of Lead Zirconate
Titanate powder / thin films through sol-gel process. Lead acetate tri-hydrate,
zirconium n-propoxide and titanium iso-propoxide are used as source precursors for
lead, zirconium & titanium respectively. Initially, a blackish powder is obtained after
drying the mixture of the three precursors at 300
oC for one hour. Further heat
treatment at 600
oC resulted in a yellowish powder, a usual color for perovskite
powder after calcination. The PZT powders hence obtained are characterized through
XRD and SEM analysis. XRD results show a presence of PZT phase after calcination
at 600 ºC for one hour and a particle size calculated using scherrer‘s equation of
approx: 28 nm. In addition, single & double layer Lead Zirconate Titanate thin films
are coated on silicon and brass (70:30) substrates by using sol-gel dip coating
process at 600
oC. Surface topography, morphology and micro-structures of PZT
coated films are investigated using contact mode Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The AFM & SEM analysis provides
evidence that the PZT thin films coated on silicon and brass (70:30) substrates are
uniform and dense, with signs of shrinkage associated with the removal of volatile
species during treatment at high temperature. Initial experiments are also conducted
to produce the PZT coating by using sol-gel spin coating process. These coatings are
produced on 70:30 Brass disk. SEM analysis endow with evident that homogeneous
PZT thin film attain as a result of spin coating process
