Fabrication and mechanical reinforcement of piezoelectric nanocomposites with ZrO2 nanoparticles embedded in situ

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-based nanocomposites embedded with both monoclinic and tetragonal phase ZrO2 nanoparticles were fabricated by a novel method of precipitation from metastable phases in situ. The mechanical properties were increased substantially and the piezoelectric properties were decreased slightly compared with those of monolithic PZT. The fracture mode was changed significantly from intergranular to transgranular with the ZrO2 nanoparticles immersed within the PZT grains. Transformation toughening and nanoparticle dispersion toughening of ZrO2 contributed to the reinforcement of the PZT/ZrO2 nanocomposites.