Effect of sol composition on dielectric and ferroelectric properties of PZT composite films

Crack free calcium modified PZT composite films have been synthesized using modified sol–gel process by depositing the slurries prepared by mixing powder of composition PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 and sol of composition Pb(1−x)CaxZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (where x = 0, 0.06, 0.1) on Pt(1 1 1)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate. The infilteration process has also been employed which resulted in dense microstructure of the films. Thickness of the films as measured by SEM of cross section of the films was more than 25 μm. The XRD patterns of the resultant films consisted of pure perovskite phase and no peak related to either pyrochlore phase or Pt substrate was observed. The room temperature dielectric constant and loss were compared. The temperature dependence of dielectric constant revealed that TC of all the films was same, i.e., 351 °C, in spite of different compositions of the sol used. Well saturated PE-loops of the films show that the films were ferroelectric in nature.