Synthesis of pyrochlore free PMN–PZT ceramics via a seeding method

Pyrochlore free (x)PMN–(1 − x)PZT ceramics were synthesized successfully by a seeding method. In this method, the mixture of PbO, MgO and Nb2O5 was added to the prepared PZT sol to from PMN–PZT gel. The gel was fired to vaporize the organic contents of gel and obtain powder. Two-step sintering process was used to produce pyrochlore free ceramics. The samples produced by this method showed higher relative densities, lower sintering temperature and higher dielectric properties relative to the mixed oxide method, mostly due to the higher homogeneity of the prepared powder. The measured dielectric properties of PZT-rich and PMN-rich materials were high while the other samples exhibited low dielectric properties.