Synthesis and structural characterization of the antiferroelectric lead zirconate nanotubes by pulsed laser deposition

For the first time, a pulsed laser ablation deposition (PLD) method has been employed for the synthesis of antiferroelectric lead zirconate, PbZrO3, (PZ) nanotubes within the pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The structure and morphology of fabricated PZ nanotubes were characterized by number of techniques, including scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM)analysis. After postannealing at 650 °C, the PZ nanotubes exhibited a polycrystalline microstructure, and X-ray diffraction studies revealed that they are of an orthorhombic distorted perovskite crystal structure. TEM analysis confirmed that the obtained PZ nanotubes are composed of nanoparticles in the range of 3–7 nm and the thickness of the wall of the nanotubes is around 10 nm.