abstract
Ferroelectric ceramics based on lead zirconate titanate with Nb and Mn additives, for use in chemical sensing, have been prepared. The perovskite phase was produced by solid phase reaction of oxides/carbonates. Powders were shaped in the form of discs by uniaxial pressing, and sintered in a controlled atmosphere at several temperature and time conditions. The microstructure of the sintered samples was observed in a scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and the grain size and density were shown to be dependent on the ceramic composition. PZT ceramic discs showed strong radial vibration modes in the kHz range, which could be used for chemical sensing applications both in gaseous and liquid media. Sensitivity was found to be strongly dependent on the density of the ceramics. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.
keywords
PHASE COEXISTENCE; LIQUID-PHASE; CERAMICS; SYSTEM; EXPOSURE
subject category
Materials Science
authors
Verissimo, MIS; Mantas, PQ; Senos, AMR; Oliveira, JABP; Gomes, MTSR
our authors
Ana Maria de Oliveira e Rocha Senos
Collaborator
Marta Veríssimo
Post-Doc Fellowshipacknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the University of Aveiro for the financial support to the project. One of the authors, M.I.S. Verissimo wishes to thank the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) for the scholarship PRAXIS XXUBD/18279/98.