Fabrication, Microstructure and Properties of Zinc Oxide Nanowhisker Reinforced Lead Zirconate Titanate Nanocomposites

摘要

Zinc oxide nanowhisker (ZnO_w) reinforced lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanocomposites were prepared by a conventional solid state processing. The incorporation of ZnO_w has effects on microstructures, electrical and mechanical properties of PZT/ZnO_w nanocomposites. Microstructure studies show that ZnO_w dispersed in the PZT matrix leads to the decline of grain size and change of fracture mode for the PZT/ZnO_w nanocomposites. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are dependent upon the content of ZnO_w nonlinearly and could be improved significantly with small addition of ZnO_w. In particular, the compression and fracture strengths of the PZT/2wt.% ZnO_w nanocomposites sintered at 1200℃ are approximately 180% and 150% of the monolithic PZT, respectively. Electrical properties of the nanocomposites could be evidently adjustable with different additions of ZnO_w. The new piezoelectric nanocomposites with good electrical and excellent mechanical properties are promising candidates for further applications.