Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powders were synthesized by hydrothermal method at various soaking temperatures (135-220degreesC) and mineralizer concentrations (0.5-2.1 M KOH). Structural and morphological studies were carried out on hydrothermally synthesized PZT powders. The effects of soaking temperatures and mineralizer concentration on the structural, morphological, and physical characteristics of the particles are studied. PZT powder synthesized at 220 degreesC for 24 h with a mineralizer concentration of 1.6 M is identified to be the optimum conditions to synthesize PZT powder and the results are discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.