Piezoelectric, ferroelectric and mechanical properties of lead zirconate titanate/zinc oxide nanowhisker ceramics

New lead zirconate titanate/zinc oxide nanowhisker (PZT/ZnO_w) ceramics were fabricated by a conventional solid state processing and their structures, piezoelectric, ferroelectric and mechanical properties were studied. Both the PZT perovskite and ZnO phases can be observed from the X-ray diffraction patterns. The grain size of ceramics is reduced due to the ZnO_w addition. The incorporation of ZnO_w into the PZT ceramics improves the strength and toughness, while deteriorates the piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties. For the PZT/ZnO_w ceramics with 1–2 wt% ZnO_w, the mechanical properties become optimum, meanwhile maintain good piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties: σ _c = 376–484 MPa, σ _f = 115–121 MPa, K _IC = 1.41–1.54 MPa m^1/2, d ₃₃ = 442–490 pC/N, k _p = 0.54–0.55, ε _r = 3,322–3,980, Q _m = 99–101, tanδ = 1.6%–1.7%, P _r = 21.5–26.9 μC/cm² and E _c = 8.1–8.6 kV/cm.