Synthesis and morphology of electrospun PVA/PLZT composite and single phase PLZT nanofibers

Polyvinyl alcohol/lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PVA/PLZT) composite nanofibers were prepared by the electrospinning method. The PLZT sol was prepared by using lead acetate trihydrate, titanium isopropoxide and zirconium propoxide molecular precursors based on sol–gel procedure. The influence of applied voltage, flow rate and needle-to-collector distance on the composite fiber morphology and diameters has been studied. The nanofibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction, TGA–DSC, FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Single phase with perovskite structures PLZT nanofibers were also obtained by calcining the PVA/PLZT nanofibrous mat at 650 °C for 2 h. A linear correlation was observed between the single perovskite phase evolution and the calcination temperature.

► The composite (PVA/PLZT) nanofibrous mats are prepared by electrospinning process.
► Morphological changes of nanofibers after calcination are represented by a schematic.
► PLZT nanofibers were obtained by calcining PVA/PLZT nanofibrous mat at 650 °C/2 h.