Molten salt synthesis of PZT powder for direct write inks

The preparation of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powder by molten salt synthesis (MSS) is described and a mechanism proposed. The effect of process parameters, such as reaction time and temperature and heating rate, on particle size and shape was investigated. A reaction mechanism for the synthesis of PZT by molten salt method is proposed, where dissolved Pb initially reacts with insoluble TiO2 to form intermediate PbTiO3. Subsequently Zr diffuses into and reacts with PbTiO3 to form PZT. Spherical particles, ∼340 nm in size, were obtained, using a NaCl/KCl salt, by heating the starting materials at 850 °C for 60 min, with a ramp rate of 3.3 °C min−1.