Methods of forming ceramic compositions

A method for forming a ceramic composition, comprising:

• combining materials comprising lead, zirconium, titanium and bismuth together to form a mixture, at least one of the materials being provided in the mixture as a nanophase powder;
• including a first cation in the mixture, the first cation comprising a cationic form of at least one element selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, hafnium, tin, manganese, niobium, tantalum, and tungsten;
• including a second cation in the mixture, the second cation comprising a cationic form of at least one element selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, cesium, calcium, strontium, barium, yttrium and lanthanide elements;
• wherein at least some of the mixture is in the form of (Pb,M)(Zr(1−x−z)TixBz)O3, with (x+z) being from greater than 0 to 1, x being greater than 0, z being greater than 0, “B” being the first cation, and “M” being the second cation;
• and
• densifying the mixture to form the ceramic composition;
• the ceramic composition having a density greater than or equal to 95% of the theoretical density for the composition, with a predominate portion of the ceramic composition having a grain size less than or equal to about 500 nanometers.

A method for forming a physical vapor deposition target, comprising:

• combining materials comprising lead, zirconium, titanium and bismuth together to form a mixture, at least one of the materials being provided in the mixture as a nanophase powder, a predominate portion of the nanophase powder having a maximum particle size of less than about 100 nanometers;
• densifying the mixture to form the ceramic composition, the ceramic composition having a density of at least 95% of a theoretical maximum density of the ceramic composition, and a predominate portion of the ceramic composition having a grain size less than or equal to about 500 nanometers;
• and
• adhering the ceramic composition to a backing plate to incorporate the ceramic composition into a physical vapor deposition target.

A method for forming a ceramic composition, comprising:

• combining materials comprising lead, zirconium, titanium and antimony together to form a mixture, at least one of the materials being provided in the mixture as a nanophase powder having a predominate portion with a particle size of less than about 100 nanometers;
• and
• densifying the mixture to form the ceramic composition;
• the ceramic composition having a density greater than or equal to 95% of the theoretical density for the composition, with a predominate portion of the ceramic composition having a grain size less than or equal to about 500 nanometers.