Synthesis of lead zirconate titanate nanofibres and the Fourier-transform infraredcharacterization of their metallo-organic decomposition process

Abstract

We have synthesized Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 fibres with diameters ranging from 500 nm to several microns using electrospinning andmetallo-organic decomposition techniques (Wang et al 2002 Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 702359). By a refinement of our electrospinning technique, i.e. by increasing the viscosity of theprecursor solution, and by adding a filter to the tip of the syringe, the diameter of thesynthesized PZT fibres has been reduced to the neighbourhood of 100 nm. The complexthermal decomposition was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR)spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that alcohol evaporated duringelectrospinning and that most of the organic groups had pyrolysed before the intermediatepyrochlore phase was formed. There is a good correspondence between XRD and FTIRspectra. We also verify that a thin film of platinum coated on the silicon substratecatalyses the phase transformation of the pyrochlore into the perovskite phase.