Effects of Additives on Semiconduction Transformation in Lead Zirconate Titanate Ceramic Induced by Atomic Hydrogen

Abstract

Effects of additives on the semiconduction transformation of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) during atomic hydrogen charging were investigated. The results showed that the resistivity of the samples decreased by seven orders of magnitude with sixty hours of hydrogen charging in electrolytic without additives. Then with further increasing hydrogen charging time, the resistivity decreased continually, however, much more slowly. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the surface structures of PZT were changed significantly upon atomic hydrogen charging. Sodium pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7) and Na2EDTA could effectively affect the semiconduction transformation of PZT as well as the surface structure change. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and XRD analysis indicated that there was no new substance formed on the surface of PZT upon atomic hydrogen charging.