One-step synthesis of <001>-oriented PbTiO3 nanoplates for templated grain growth by a hydrothermal method

-oriented PbTiO3 nanoplates with an average aspect ratio of approximately 5 were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method. The factors that could affect the growth of the PbTiO3 nanoplates, such as the concentration of the mineralizer (KOH) and ratio of Pb2+/Ti4+ in the source materials, were carefully investigated. A modified growth process of the PbTiO3 nanoplates was proposed by a time variation evaluation. Therefore, the typical growth parameters were set to 200 degrees C/10 h, Pb2+/Ti4+ = 1.25 (M-p25 = 5 mmol and M-Pb(NO3)2 = 6.25 mmol), and M-KOH = 8 mol/L (in 30 ml of DI water) with P25-TiO2 and Pb(NO3)(2) as the source materials. Furthermore, the d(33) versus applied voltage curve showed good ferroelectric behavior with a maximum d(33) value of similar to 165 pm/V, indicating promising potential as seeds for templated grain growth (TGG) of PbTiO3 nanoplates.