Solvothermal Synthesis of Size-Controlled Lead Zirconate Titanate Particles

Nanocrystalline lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powders have been synthesized by solvothermal method, in which a mixed solvent of ethanol and water was used as reactive medium and Pb (NO3)2, ZrOCl2·8H2O, C16H36O4Ti, KOH and NH3·H2O were used as raw materials. It was found that PZT particle sizes decreased from 2 μm to 100 nm with the ratio of Vethanol/Vwater increasing from 1/2 to 2/1 under a KOH concentration of 4 mol/L at 200 °C for 4 h. It indicated that the Vethanol/Vwater of mixed solvent played an important role in controlling the morphology and size of PZT crystals, as well as reaction temperature.