Comparative studies on structural and electrical properties of lead titanate synthesized by ceramic and co-precipitation method

Abstract Lead titanate, PbTiO 3 (PT), ceramic material is a useful piezoelectric material for high-temperature and high-frequency applications such as non-volatile memories, infrared sensors and capacitors. However, it is very difficult to obtain a pure-phase and dense PT as a result of a maximum c / a ratio. In this paper, we have reported a conformable PT ceramics with standard double sintering as well as chemical co-precipitation method were successfully synthesized by means of carefully controlled processing parameters, viz., pH value, sintering temperature, soaking time and heating/cooling rates. This novel method was developed to synthesize PbTiO 3 sample so as to gain better control on chemical homogeneity and stoichiometry. Moreover, relatively inexpensive laboratory grade (LR) lead nitrate [Pb(NO 3 ) 2 ] and titanium tetra-isopropoxide [Ti{OCH(CH 3 ) 2 } 4 ] are used as starting materials. Single phase formation was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The room temperature conductivity study was done by measuring AC conductivity in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 1 MHz and DC resistivity in the temperature range from room temperature to 800 K. Dielectric measurements were carried out at selected frequencies from room temperature to well above transition temperature ( T c ). Discussion on comparison between both preparation methods was made on the basis of observed results from electrical properties.