Electrical studies on Na and Sm substituted strontium bismuth titanate (SBTi) ceramics

Abstract

Single-phase Sodium (Na), Samarium (Sm) substituted Strontium Bismuth Titanate (SNSBTi I-V) ceramics were synthesized by solid-state double sintering approach via high energy planetary ball mill for 20 hours grinding. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study confirms the primary structure and orthorhombic distortion of crystal. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows the grain orientation and densified plate-like grain structure of SNSBTi I-V. The complex impedance spectroscopy method was used to study the temperature and frequency dependent electric properties of the material using a high-frequency LCR meter. Z'' versus frequency plots have shown the peak shifting to higher frequencies with increasing concentration of Na, Sm. It is also found that the magnitude of the peaks decreases with increasing temperature. The grain and grain boundary relaxation mechanisms of SNSBTi I-V have been identified using Nyquist plots; the resistance, capacitance and relaxation times were obtained from Z-view software. It is seen that the grain and grain boundary resistances decreased with the increasing concentration of Na and Sm of SBTi ceramics.

Keywords:

• Complex Impedance spectroscopy
• grains
• grain boundaries and relaxation time

Acknowledgements

The authors are also thankful to SERB and Vardhaman College of Engineering, Shamshabad, Hyderabad for their constant support.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Faculty of Science and Technology, IFHE, Hyderabad for the financial support and encouragement.