Iranian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering

In the following research, Lead magnesium niobate relaxor ferroelectric (PMN-PZT) ceramic powders were synthesized using the combustion method grand urea as the fuel for the first time. The starting materials used were lead nitrate, magnesium acetate, niobium oxide, zirconium nitrate, titanium oxide.

    The raw materials were first mixed using the general formula of (1-x)Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-xPb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃, with  x=0.3. The synthesized powders were characterized using XRD, SEM and FTIR spectroscopy techniques. The X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that the structure of the prepared samples were tetragonal at 500,600,700 and 800 ^oC. However, the monoclinic phase was detected in the samples calcined at 800 ^oC and the amount of pyrocholore phase also drastically decreased at this temperature. The band gap widths of the samples were measured via UV spectroscopy in the wave number range of 400-4000cm^-1. The results show that by increasing the calcination temperature, the band gap width of the prepared samples decreases. SEM micrographs verify that by rising the calcination temperature, the structure of the prepared samples becomes more homogenous.