Synthesis and structural properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube-Pb(Zr 0.5₂Ti_0.48)O₃ composites

We report the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the electrical properties of Pb(Zr0.5₂Ti_0.48)O₃ (PZT) in thin film structures. MWCNT-PZT films were prepared using a sol-gel process followed by spin-coating and rapid thermal annealing. Purified MWCNT bundles were dispersed into a PZT sol-gel solution, the concentration of which varied from 1 wt% to 16 wt%. The MWCNT-PZT solution was then deposited onto (111) Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates and annealed at 500°C in a H ₂/N₂ atmosphere. The morphological, structural, electrical properties of MWCNT-PZT composite films were studied by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and impedance analysis. Changes in dielectric constant of the films as a function of MWCNT content were analyzed.