Fabrication and characterization of size-controlled single-crystal-like PZT nanofibers by sol-gel based electrospinning

Size-controlled single-crystal-like lead zirconate titanate (PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3, PZT) ceramic fibers have been successfully prepared by sol-gel based electrospinning and subsequent calcination process, and their morphology, crystal structure have been characterized at nanoscale. The fiber diameter can be precisely controlled from ∼50 to 540 nm by varying the PVP concentration and electrospinning process parameters. The crystal structure of the nanofibers pyrolyzed at 400 °C for 0.5 h and calcined at 650 °C for 2 h is proved to be single-crystal-like tetragonal perovskite phase. A formation mechanism is also discussed based on the thermal decomposition process, effect of the calcination and pyrolysis procedure, using the thermogravimetry/differential scanning caborimetry (TG/DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is found that the pyrolysis procedure is a critical factor for the fabrication of single-crystal-like structure PZT nanofibers using electrospinning.