Abstract

The pure lead zirconate (PbZrO3) and low concentrations thorium-doped samples with general formula (Pb1-xThxZrO3) where x=0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.25 mole were synthesized by the conventional solid state method and sintering procedures. Experimental XRD-measurements indicated that Thorium dopant can substitute successfully on the A-sites of lead zirconate without damaging the main crystal structure which found to be orthorhombic phase with Cmmm space group. Scannin electron microscopy indicated that the average grain size of thorium-doped-lead zirconate ranged in between 0.35 and 1.43 μm. A Visualized studies were made to confirm success of thorium doping in the A-sites of perovskite structure. Theoretical investigations done were concerned by matching and comparison of bond distances ,torsions on angles of investigated compound to clarify success of thorium doping on the perovskite structure. Thermal analyses TGA&DTA were also attempted and incorporated to clarify the effect of thorium doping on thermal behavior of doped perovskite. Furthermore the effect of low concentration thorium dopings on the magnetic order, grain size and vibrational modes frequencies of infrared-spectra were studied.

Key words: Crystal Structure; Thorium-doped lead zirconate; Doping; Perovskite