Sains Malaysiana 38(5)(2009): 685–691

 

Effect of ZrO2 Addition on Microstructure, Morphology and Pressure Sensing Behaviour of Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 Ceramics Sintered in Al2O3 Environment

(Kesan ZrO2 ke atas Mikrostruktur, Morfologi, dan Sifat Pengesan Tekanan Seramik

Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 dalam Persekitaran Al2O3)

 

Norhashimah Ramli1, Muhamad Mat Salleh2,

Muhammad Yahaya1 & Mohammad Hafizuddin Hj. Jumali1*

1School of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science & Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,

43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

 

2Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronic (IMEN)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,

43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 17 Oktober 2008 / Diterima: 26 Mac 2009

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

The effect of ZrO2 addition on the microstructure, morphology and pressure sensing behaviour of Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 ceramics was studied in five different compositions of ZrO2, namely x = 0.48, 0.50, 0.52, 0.54 and 0.56. The samples were prepared through the solid-state reaction method using high purity metal oxides powders. In order to control the PbO losses due to high temperature sintering, a novel approach were explored whereby the samples were sintered in Al2O3 environment. Structural investigation using X-ray diffraction (XRD) method revealed that all samples exhibited a tetragonal crystal structure. However the c/a lattice parameters ratios exhibited a decreasing trend as the ZrO2 content was increased, indicating that PZT crystals gradually evolved towards pseudocubic structure. SEM micrographs showed different morphology of each composition with the grain size varies in the range of 1.5 μm to 3.15 μm. The performance of pressure sensing behaviour showed that sample with composition x = 0.52 exhibited the best piezoelectric properties with high sensitivity. However, all samples failed to show good stability and repeatability due to slow recovery after severe lattice strain.

 

Keywords: Morphology; pressure sensing; PZT; solid state reaction

 

ABSTRAK

 

Kesan ZrO2 ke atas mikrostruktur, morfologi dan sifat pengesan tekanan Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 telah dikaji dengan lima komposisi ZrO2 iaitu x = 0.48, 0.50, 0.52, 0.54 dan 0.56. Sampel disediakan melalui kaedah tindak balas keadaan pepejal menggunakan bahan-bahan pelopor berketulenan tinggi. Dalam mengawal masalah kehilangan PbO yang disebabkan oleh suhu pensinteran yang tinggi, sampel dibakar di dalam serbuk alumina. Analisis XRD menunjukkan PZT sebagai fasa utama dalam semua sampel dan berstruktur tetragonal. Nisbah parameter kekisi c/a menunjukkan corak penurunan dengan peningkatan komposisi ZrO2. Mikrograf SEM menunjukkan morfologi butiran yang terhasil adalah berbeza bagi setiap komposisi dengan julat saiz butiran dianggarkan antara 1.5 μm ke 3.15 μm. Analisis terhadap sifat pengesan tekanan yang dikaji menggunakan sensor tekanan menunjukkan sampel dengan komposisi x = 0.52 menunjukkan sifat piezoelektrik yang baik dengan nilai kepekaan yang tinggi. Walau bagaimanapun, semua sampel gagal menunjukkan sifat kebolehulangan dan kestabilan yang baik.

 

Kata kunci: Morfologi; PZT; pengesan tekanan; tindak balas keadaan pepejal

 

RUJUKAN

 

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: hafizhj@ukm.my

 

 

 

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