Determination of compositional fluctuation region in solid solution of lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate

A method was developed to determine a compositional fluctuation region in Pb1−yLay(ZrxTi1−x)1−(y/4)O3 (PLZT) solid solution in the tetragonal region. The compositional fluctuation in PLZT extends two-dimensionally on the phase diagram. The method described in this paper utilized the fact that the compositional fluctuation region extends to the composition lines whose lattice spacing corresponds to the higher or lower fluctuation limit. The fluctuation limits of the lattice spacings were estimated from X-ray diffraction analysis. This method revealed that the compositional fluctuation in PLZT is difficult to be eliminated by using a conventional dry method (mixed oxide method). The shape of the region indicated that homogenization of Zr4+ and Ti4+ was more difficult as compared with that of Pb2+ and La3+.