PZT powders were prepared by the molten salt synthesis method. The porous PZT ceramics were made from a mixture of PZT and polyvinylalcohol(PVA) by BURPS(Burnout Plastic Sphere) technique. The porous PZT bodies were fabricated from the green compacts with various amounts of PVA spheres. The piezoelectric coefficient d$_{33}$ (334~350*10$^{-12}$ C/N)of porous PZT ceramics(364*10$^{-12}$ C/N). The figure of merit(d$_{h}$g$_{h}$) of porous PZT specimens evaluating the sensitivity for ultrasonic transducer applications was improved significantly(11~70times) in comparison with that of single phase PZT ceramics(100*10$^{-15}$ m$^{2}$/N). The thickness mode coupling factor k$_{t}$(0.5~0.6) of porous specimens was comparable with that of single phase PZT ceramics(k$_{t}$=0.7). The mechanical quality factor of porous PZT specimens was smaller than 10, and thus these porous PZT ceramics would be believed as a good candidate for broad band hydrophone applications. (author). 10 refs., 7 figs.igs.igs.