Ferroelectric phase transition in Pb0.92Gd0.08(Zr0.53Ti0.47)0.98O3 nanoceramic synthesized by high-energy ball milling

The nanocrystalline Gd-doped lead titanium zirconate (PGZT) with the composition Pb0.92Gd0.08(Zr0.53Ti0.47)0.98O3 has been synthesized by a combination of high-energy ball milling [mechanical alloying (MA)] and sintering. PGZT prepared by MA followed by high-temperature sintering has a higher dielectric constant compared to that of the conventional technique. PGZT shows a nonrelaxor ferroelectric behavior but has diffuse ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition. The activation energy of the material was found sensitive to its crystallite size.