Preparation and microstructure analysis of Fe-doped PbTiO ceramic

Abstract

Fe-doped PbTiO₃ (PT) powder and bulk materials were prepared successfully by sol-gel technique and a subsequent sintering process using Fe (C₅H₅)₂ as a dopant agent. The effects of pH and temperature on the Fe-doped PT system were investigated. Thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the composition and the microstructure of the PT ceramics. The results indicated that the thermal decomposition of xerogel included three stages: volatilization of adsorption water and organic composition, oxygenolysis of n-butyl and acetate, and transformation of the crystalline phase. Well-stabilized collosol and gel could be obtained at 60°C and pH = 4.5. It was found that PbTiO₃, PbFe₂O₄, and TiO₂ crystalline appeared in the Fe-doped PT system when the mass fraction of the dopant Fe was 0.03%. Furthermore, from STM analysis, it could be seen that the grain size of doped PT ceramics was homogeneous and about 1–2 ?m, and the pore of the PT ceramic was small. As a result, the PT ceramic had high tightness.

Keywords

sol-gel / PbTiO₃ ceramics / Fe(C₅H₅)₂ doped