Combustion synthesis and electromagnetic properties of nanocrystalline Pb(Zr 0.52 Ti 0.48 )O 3

The properties of nanocrystalline lead zirconate titanate [PZT, Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3] thick films and pellets synthesized by self-propagating auto combustion route using sucrose as a fuel are reported. The X-ray diffraction reveals the formation of nanocrystalline tetragonal PZT having a particle size of 5.52 nm in thick films and 7.08 nm in bulk material. SEM images show the grain size of 300–400 nm with some agglomeration, as well as modified open grain boundaries and grain growth in the PZT thick film as compared to the bulk material. The DC electric resistivity of PZT shows semiconducting behavior. We also characterized the 8–18 GHz microwave insertion loss, absorption, complex permittivity, and microwave conductivity of synthesized materials. The real part of permittivity and dielectric loss were found to decrease with increasing frequency.