Effect of Heat Treatment Temperature on the Formation of Ag Nanoparticles in Ag-PbTiO3 Composite Thin Films

Abstract

Ag-nanoparticles dispersed PbTiO 3 composite thin films were prepared in situ by sol-gel method. The effect of heat treatment temperature on the microstructure was investigated using XRD, SEM and UV-VIS absorption spectra respectively. Results indicated that PbTiO 3 began to crystallize at about 350°C and the highest speed of the formation of PbTiO 3 crystalline phase in the film appeared at 600°C. Ag-nanoparticles formed at above 450°C in the films and the maximum of the nanoparticle content was exhibited at 600°C. The permittivity of the thin films with large numbers of nanoparticles is about 3 times higher than those without Ag-nanoparticles.