Effect of heating rate on dielectric and pyroelectric properties of double doped PZT

Double doped lead zirconium titanate (PZT) was synthesised by solid state reaction method. Calcination and sintering was carried out at various heating rates in order to study the effect of heating rate on the extent of phase formation of double doped PZT. Furthermore, the effect of heating rate on dielectric and pyroelectric properties was also investigated. Rhombohedral perovskite phase was confirmed in the double doped PZT samples. Quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis suggests that the extent of PZT formation decreases beyond 8°C min−1 heating rate. The crystallite and grain sizes calculated from Scherrer's equation and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) photographs respectively show the decreasing behaviour with increasing heating rate. Dielectric and pyroelectric properties show the increasing behaviour up to 8°C min−1 and decreasing behaviour beyond this heating rate.