Mechanochemical synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline 0.4Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3–0.6PbTiO3 powders

Perovskite 0.4Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3–0.6PbTiO3 (BZT–PT) powders were successfully synthesized from precursor oxides using a high-energy planetary ball milling. The phase development of the powders during milling was studied by means of X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering techniques. The microstructure of the powders was characterized using transmission electron microscopy, and the thermal behavior was studied as well. The results reveal that after 15 h of milling the formation of BZT–PT phase can be completed and submicron agglomerates of small crystallite sized ~ 12 nm are present in the powders. However, further prolonging the milling time to 25 h leads to the amorphization of the BZT–PT phase.