Low temperature hydrothermal routes to various PZT stoichiometries

The production of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) with a variation in Zr and Ti ratios using a hydrothermal method has been attempted. We show that when reactions are conducted at 160 degrees C, for 4 h, the phase of PZT produced is independent of the initial Zr/Ti precursor ratio. In all cases we produce PZT with a crystal structure close to the morphotropic phase boundary, i.e. Zr/Ti approximate to 52:48. The excess precursors either fail to react, or form amorphous and crystalline impurity phases that are detectable via powder XRD after the hydrothermal treatment. Using an excess of Pb precursor is shown to aid the crystallisation of the resultant PZT powder, as verified by SEM and FIB analysis.