abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have the potential to act as templates or bottom electrodes for three-dimensional (3D) capacitor arrays, which utilize one-dimensional (1D) ferroelectric nanostructures to increase the memory size and density. However, growing a ferroelectric on the surface of CNTs is nontrivial. Here, we demonstrate that multiwalled (MW) CNTs decrease the time and temperature for the formation of lead zirconium titanate Pb(Zr1-xTix)O-3 (PZT) by similar to 100 degrees C commensurate with a decrease in activation energy from 68 +/- 15 to 27 +/- 2 kJ/mol. As a consequence, monophasic PZT was obtained at 575 degrees C for MWCNTs/PZT, but for pure PZT, traces of pyrochlore were still present at 650 degrees C, where the PZT phase formed due to homogeneous nucleation. The piezoelectric nature of MWCNTs/PZT synthesized at 500 degrees C for 1 h was proven. Although further work is required to prove the concept of 3D capacitor arrays, our result suggests that it is feasible to utilize MWCNTs as templates/electrodes for the formation of 1D PZT nanoferroelectrics.
keywords
MULTIWALL CARBON NANOTUBES; TITANATE THIN-FILMS; SOL-GEL TECHNIQUE; PZT CERAMICS; TEMPERATURE; PRECURSORS; GROWTH; OXIDES
subject category
Chemistry; Materials Science
authors
Mahajan, A; Reaney, IM; Costa, PMFJ; Kingon, AI; Konya, Z; Kukovecz, A; Vilarinho, PM
our authors
Amit Mahajan
PhD Student
Paula Maria Lousada Silveirinha Vilarinho
Vice Directoracknowledgements
We acknowledge Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional Portugal (FEDER), QREN-COMPETE Portugal, and Associate Laboratory CICECO (PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2013) for funding support. A.M. acknowledges the FCT for financial support (SPRH/BD/65415/2009). The financial support of the OTKA NN 110676, TAMOP-4.2.2.A-11/1/KONV-2012-0047, and TAMOP-4.2.2.A-11/1/KONV-2012-0060 projects is also acknowledged.