Fabrication and properties of the Nb doped Zr-rich lead zirconate titanate ceramics by a heterogenous precipitation method

A novel heterogenous precipitation method (H-P) combining the merits of solid state synthesis (S-S-S) and the liquid routes was developed to synthesize ZrO2 phase-free Nb doped Zr-rich PZT ceramics. The microstructure of the ceramics synthesized by H-P was more homogeneous and fine than for S-S-S. The density and the ferroelectric properties of the ceramics synthesized by H-P were higher than that by S-S-S. The dissipation factor tgδ synthesized by H-P was lower than that by S-S-S. The Weibull distribution analysis shows that the dielectric breakdown of the ceramics synthesized by H-P method is markedly improved.