Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) doped with praseodymium, Pb1-xPrx (Zr0.54Ti0.46)O-3, x=0.01, 0.03 and 0.05 ceramics were prepared by the conventional mixed oxide method and were sintered at 1200 degrees C for 1 hour. The perovskite rhombohedral and tetragonal phases were identified by XRD spectra. From the SEM micrographic investigation, the grain size was observed to decrease as more Pr6O11 was added to the PZT ceramics, while the sintered density increased from 7.3 to 7.8 g/cm(3). A dependence of dielectric constant on grain size was observed. The ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties were enhanced with increased Pr dopant.

Keywords: PZT; Pr6O11; microstructure; piezoelectric properties