Structural characterization of lead zirconate titanate film synthesized by hydrothermal method

The structural properties of a hydrothermally deposited lead zirconate titanate (PZT) film have been investigated. The deposited film exhibited a tetragonal perovskite structure with a Zr/Ti ratio of 12/88 in the region between the surface and the depth of 6 pin. The lattice parameters and Curie temperature of the film were measured to be a = 3.948 angstrom, c = 4.141 angstrom, and Tc = 520 degrees C, respectively, which were different from those reported for bulk PZT. Furthermore, potassium was detected in the film with a K/Pb ratio of 1.4/98.6 because potassium hydroxide was used as a mineralizer for the hydrothremal reaction. Consequently, we conclude that the differences in the lattice parameters of the film from those of the bulk PZT are attributed to K+ ions incorporated into the PZT crystal, and the high Curie temperature resulted from the polarization pinning effect induced by K+ substituents and oxygen vacancies.