Chemical modification of alkoxide precursors for lead zirconate titanate formation

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) gel monolith was prepared by partially hydrolysing metal alkoxide solutions which were modified with acetylacetone (acacH). Lead diisopropoxide zirconium tetrabutoxide and titanium tetraisopropoxide were used as starting materials. After aging of the translucent monolithic gel at room temperature for several days or drying at 90°C for 18 h, the most significant feature in the infrared spectrum is the presence of bands at about 1550cm^-1 which can be assigned to the ν(C-O) and ν(C-C) vibrations of the acetylacetonate group coordinated to the metal cations of titanium and zirconium. Diffraction peaks of PbO were found after heating at 300°C for 2 h. After heating at 450°C for 2 h, diffraction peaks of pyrochlore Pb₂Ti₂O₆ and perovskite PZT phases were observed. The diffraction peaks of PbO and the pyrochlore phase disappeared after heating at 600°C, and the tetragonal perovskite phase was stable up to 1000°C. Diffraction peaks of the perovskite phase were also found after heating at 430°C for 24 h.