Synthesis and piezoresponse of highly ordered Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O-3 nanowire arrays

We report the synthesis and characterization of ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O-3 (PZT) nanowires. The PZT nanowires, with diameters of about 45 nm and lengths of about 6 mum, were fabricated by means of a sol-gel method utilizing nanochannel alumina templates. After postannealing at 700 degreesC, the PZT nanowires exhibit a polycrystalline microstructure, and x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy study revealed their perovskite crystal structure. The piezoelectric characteristics of individual PZT nanowires were demonstrated by piezoresponse force microscopy