Ferroelectric and dielectric properties in Ba₅SmFe_1·5Nb_8·5O₃₀ tungsten bronze ceramics

Abstract

The dielectric and relaxor properties of Ba₅SmFe_1·5Nb_8·5O₃₀ tungsten bronze ceramics were investigated together with the crystal structure. Tetragonal filled tungsten bronze structure was determined in space group P4bm with lattice parameters of a = b = 12·527(6) Å, c = 3·955(2) Å. Three dielectric relaxations were observed in the temperature range from 128 to 623 K. A temperature stable dielectric constant plateau (∼2·5×10³) was observed between the middle and high temperature relaxations. The low temperature dielectric relaxation (∼250 K) illustrated a typical relaxor ferroelectric behaviour. The middle temperature dielectric relaxation (dispersing from ∼150 to 450 K) and the high temperature dielectric relaxation (>500 K) were Debye type thermal active processes. The middle temperature relaxation had an active energy with a magnitude of 10⁻¹ eV, and a relaxation frequency of ∼10⁸ Hz was attributed to the inhomogeneous structure. The high temperature relaxation with an active energy ∼1·4 eV and a relaxation frequency ∼10¹⁶ Hz was attributed to the electrode polarisation. Introduction of Fe ions generates large and temperature stable dielectric constant between the middle temperature and high temperature relaxations, disturbs the polarisation ordering and depresses the ferroelectric relaxation temperature.

Keywords:

• Dielectric properties

This work was partially supported by National Science Foundation of China under grant nos. 50832005, 51102210 and 90922024. X. L. Zhu acknowledges FCT for financial support (grant no. SFRH/BPD/82534/2011).