FT-IR Spectroscopic Study of Preparation of Lead Zirconium Titanate (PZT) by Sol-Gel Processing

Gelation time, gel structure and volatility of by-products during gelation of PZT sol-gel processing were investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. FT-IR spectroscopic study was performed on PZT gels with the various H₂O contents (1, 2 and 3 mol) and the several types (HNO₃, NH₄OH) and amounts (0.1, 0.2 mol) of catalysts, monitoring temporal (0, 1, 3, 10 weeks, 3 months and 3 years) and thermal (100-700°C) changes of FT-IR spectra. The interpretation of temporal change of the spectra revealed two trends. One is under the condition of 1 mol H₂O, 1 mol H₂O+0.1 mol HNO₂, 3 mol H₂O and the other is for 1 mol H₂O+0.1 mol NH₄OH, 2 mol H₂O, 1 mol H₂O+0.2 mol HNO₃. The gel structures and the gelation times for these conditions were discussed in comparison with the reported results of SiO₂, and we suggested the reaction mechanisms for these structural characteristics. Thermal variation of FT-IR spectra was interpreted as the evolution processes of gel by investigating the evaporation of solvent and the decomposition of organic residues.