Green Synthesis of Piezoelectric Thin Films based on Niobium Doped Barium Zirconate Titanate – Barium Calcium Titanate (Nb-BZT-BCT)

Abstract

This work focuses on the sol-gel production of thin films made of Barium Zirconate Titanate -Barium Calcium Titanate with 2% niobium doping starting from non-toxic, non-hazardous precursor solutions. Multi-layered samples were produced by repeated chemical solution deposition routes carried out by spinning the opportune precursor solutions and then performing three heat treatments at increasing temperatures. Undoped samples have also been produced for comparison. A simplification of the process, obtained by eliminating the lowest temperature heat treatment, intended for drying the xerogel, has also been tested. The characterizations indicated that the niobium-doped sample produced with the simplified process showed a better morphology and therefore better results in terms of electrical properties.