Sol-gel synthesis and characterization of Nd³⁺ doped PZT nanopowders using a novel system

Nd³⁺ doped PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃ (PNZT) nanopowders were prepared by sol-gel methods in Ethylene glycol system. Neodymium nitrate was used as Nd³⁺ source. The reaction mechanisms of nanopowder preparing process from the Sol were discussed through using FTIR, XRD, TG-DTA, and it was proved that the heating temperature of PNZT was 50°C-100°C higher than PZT. PNZT lattice structure was characterized by XRD, Raman, SEM and TEM. Results show that the lattice aberrance of PNZT was increased with Nd³⁺ doping. Comparing with PZT, the constant a and V of PNZT were decreasing with the addition of Nd³⁺, but the c and c/a were increasing with a few Nd³⁺ doping and then were decreasing gradually with the addition of Nd³⁺. If Nd³⁺%<9% (mol), perovskite PNZT nanopowders which particle size is about 20-50nm could be formed. Nd³⁺ replaced Pb²⁺ of PZT and formed steady perovskite crystal with Ti⁴⁺ and O^2-.