The photosensitive lanthanum-doped lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) gel films were prepared by chemical modification with acetylacetone (AcAcH), and their fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) spectra were measured. The results show that the chelate rings of AcAcH with Ti or Zr are formed in the PLZT gel films. With irradiation of UV light, the chelate rings are photolyzed, and lead to a change of the solubility of the PLZT gel films in methanol. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations show that the perovskite phase is crystallized in PLZT thin film after heat treatment at 700 degreesC, whose grain sizes are less than or equal to 60 nm. The PLZT thin films exhibited hysteresis loops and good fatigue properties. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.