Enhanced piezoelectric properties of Nd³⁺ doped nano-lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics

Nd³⁺ doped lead zirconate titanate (Pb_1-3x/2Nd_xZr_0.52 Ti_0.48O₃, PNZT) nanopowders were prepared through a modified sol-gel method. The effects of Nd³⁺ doping on the microstructures and properties of PNZT ceramics have been studies. The grain sizes of the perovskite PNZT nanopowders were about 100 nm and the lattice distortion of the PNZT increased with the content of Nd³⁺ up to 9 mol%. The dopant of Nd³⁺ resulted in the decrease of crystal lattice parameter a and the obvious increase of c and c/a, which effectively improved the sintered densification and activity of the PNZT ceramics. Due to lead vacancies caused by the doping of Nd³⁺ in the PZT, the piezoelectric constant, electromechanical coupling coefficient and dielectric constant observed were much higher than the monolithic PZT.