XANES spectroscopy study of Pb(Ti, Zr)O3 ferroelectric thin films

Thin films of zirconium-rich perovskites Pb1-3x/2 Lax Zr0.65 Ti0.35O3 (PLZT; x=0.095) were studied using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. Is shown, that slow crystallization of the system is accompanied by partial reduction of lead oxides to a metal (Pb0) state. The same results were found in the samples of the same composition with addition of 30% mol of PbO. The evidence for stereo active 6s2 lone-pair is discussed.