The pervoskite phase was synthesized by an emulsion method in the system of PMN-PZN. Pb(NO3)2, Mg(NO3)2·6H2O, Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and Nb(HC2O4)5·nH2O were used as starting materials. Span 80, kerosene and paraffin oil were used to prepare the organic phase. The mixture of aqueous salt solution and organic phase was emulsified at a speed of 4000 rpm for 5 minutes. To evaporate the water, the emulsion was dropped into the kerosene heated at 170 oC in a silicon oil bath and dried at 120 oC in an oven. The as-dried powders were calcined at temperatures from 500 oC to 900 oC for 2 h. A perovskite single phase was formed at 850 oC for 2 h. The mean particle size of the as-dried and calcined powders at 850 oC were 0.25 μm and 0.14 μm respectively. 0.8PMN-0.2PZN sintered at 1050 oC showed a 93% theoretical density, a 12000 dielectric constant, and a 4 oC Curie temperature.

Keywords: PMN-PZN system, Emulsion, Perovskite, Powder preparation, Dielectric constant