Conductivity measurement and dielectric,impedance and modulus spectroscopic studies on bis (P-nitrophenol) melaminium monohydrate

The present work is aimed to study the dielectric and electrical characteristics of bis (P-nitrophenol) melaminium monohydrate (BNPM) over the temperature and frequency ranges of 333–453 K and 50 Hz–5 MHz, respectively. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″), ac-conductivity (σ_ac), real (M′) and imaginary part (M″) of dielectric modulus were investigated as a function of temperature and frequency. The impedance analysis has been carried out using Cole-Cole plots to elucidate the electrical conduction mechanism. Further, observations indicated that the grain boundaries are more resistive and capacitive than the grains, inducing inhomogeneity in the material, which, in turn, causes broad frequency-dependent dielectric anomalies. The observed frequency-dependence of the AC conductivity validated the Jonscher power law. Further, an asymmetric dispersion peak in the imaginary part of the electrical modulus (M”) was noticed, indicating that the fabricated material exhibits non-Debye relaxation behavior.     

Dielectric properties of FeNbO4 ceramics prepared by the sol-gel method

In this work, FeNbO₄ powders were prepared using the sol-gel method. The fine powder particles were pressed into pellets and sintered at temperatures between 500 and 1200 °C. The powder was studied by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The morphology of the grains was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Heat-treatment of the particles results in higher crystallinity, larger grains, and a decrease in the porosity of the material.The dielectric properties were measured in the frequency range of 10²–10⁶ Hz, in function of temperature (200–370 K). In all samples the real (ε′) and imaginary (ε″) parts of the complex permittivity increase with increasing annealing temperature. The sample heat treated at 1200 °C shows the highest ε′, > 10⁴ at 300 K. All samples show a dielectric relaxation phenomenon, analysed using the modulus formalism. The evolution of the ac conduction activation energy and of the activation energy associated with the relaxation mechanism, is directly related with the changes promoted by the heat treatment in the structure and in the morphology of the base powders.     

Structural characterization and dielectric properties of the solid solutions AgPb(Sb,Bi)S3

The new solid solutions AgPbSb_1 − x Bi _x S₃ were prepared by solid state reactions. The phases were characterized by powder X-ray diffractions (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. The XRD patterns of different members (x = 0.5, 0.7, 0.8, and 1.0) are consistent with pure phases crystallizing in the cubic PbS-type structure. The electrical characterization was carried out using ac impedance spectroscopy and dc methods. The temperature dependence of the dc conductivity shows typical semiconductor Arrhenius behavior. The impedance measurements were performed in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz and at the temperature range of 15 °C to 350 °C. The ac conductivity conforms to Jonscher’s universal power law. The frequency dependence of the dielectric permittivity follows the normal dielectric material behavior, and the relaxation is thermally activated. The frequency and temperature dependences of the electrical data are found to follow Summerfield scaling formalism.     

Studies of structural,dielectric relaxor and electrical characteristics of lead-free double Perovskite:Gd2NiMnO6

In the current communication, structural, microstructural, dielectric, relaxor, impedance, AC conductivity, and electrical modulus characteristics of double perovskite Gd₂NiMnO₆ (synthesized by a solid state reaction route) as a function of temperature (25–125 °C) and frequency (1 kHz–1MHz) have mainly been reported. From preliminary X-ray structural analysis, it is found that the crystal structure of the material is monoclinic. In temperature dependence of dielectric constant analysis, relaxor behaviour of the material was observed. Such type of behaviour is described by modified Curie–Weiss law and a Vogel–Fulcher law. From Nyquist plots, the existence of grain and grain boundary effect in the material is observed. The non–Debye type of relaxation is confirmed from the complex impedance spectroscopy. From the impedance data, the determined grain resistance reduces with increment of temperature showing negative temperature co-efficient of resistance (NTCR)-type nature of the material which also confirmed from conductivity analysis. Again, non-Debye type of relaxation phenomena is observed from the analysis of modulus spectroscopy which is also proved by complex impedance plot. From these result it may be concluded that this material may be used for different high temperature applications.     

Synthesis and characterization of cancrinite-type zeolite, and its ionic conductivity study by AC impedance analysis

The synthesis of cancrinite in the system NaOH-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-NaHCO₃-H₂O was performed, according to methods described in the literature, in an autoclave under hydrothermal conditions at T = 473 K. The electrical properties of cancrinite-type zeolite pellets were investigated by complex impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range 465?C800°C. The effect of temperature on impedance parameters was studied using an impedance analyzer in a wide frequency range (1 Hz to 13 MHz). The real and imaginary parts of complex impedance trace semicircles in the complex plane are plotted. The bulk resistance of the material decreases with rise in temperature. This exhibits a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behavior of the material. The results of bulk electrical conductivity and its activation energy are presented. The modulus analysis suggests that the electrical transport processes in the material are very likely to be of electronic nature. Relaxation frequencies follow an Arrhenius behavior with activation energy values not comparable to those found for the electrical conductivity.     

Role of aluminum ions on the dielectric and conducting properties of multiferroic Tb1−xAlxMnO3: Study at high temperatures

Dielectric and conducting properties of Tb_1−xAl_xMnO₃ (x = 0, 0.05) synthesized by the solid–state reaction method have been investigated. The Al ion has the same valence as substituted Tb but is nonmagnetic and its small size gives rise to microstructural strain which affects the multiferroic properties of the parent compound. Samples were characterized by means of complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) in the frequency range from 40 Hz to 5 MHz, at temperatures above room temperature. The conductivity curves for the two samples are well fitted by the Jonscher law σ(ω) = σ_dc + Aωⁿ. Results of the fitting procedure indicate that for the studied samples, the hopping motion involves localized hopping without the species leaving the neighbors. Frequency dependence of the dielectric constant (ε″) and tangent loss (tan δ) display a dispersive behavior at low frequencies that can be explained on the basis of the Maxwell–Wagner model and Koop's theory. The relaxation dynamics of charge carriers has been studied by means of the electric modulus formalism. In turn, the variation of the imaginary part of the complex impedance, Z″, shows a peak at a relaxation angular frequency (ω_r) related to the relaxation time (τ) by τ = 1/ω_r. The complex impedance spectra (Nyquist plots) show well-defined semicircles which are strongly dependent on the Al-doping level and temperature. The complex impedance data have been modeled using electrical equivalent circuits.     

Dielectric characteristics of a Ce3+-doped Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 single crystal with Cole–Cole plots technique

In this paper, we have investigated relaxation mechanisms and dielectric characteristics of an Sr_0.61−xBa_0.39Nb₂O₆Ce_x (abbreviated as SBN61 and x=0.0066) single crystal with dielectric spectroscopy measurements. The crystal undergoes a ferroelectric phase transition at 340 K. The temperature dependence of the real and imaginary part of the complex dielectric susceptibility in the vicinity of ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition has been studied in the frequency region 100 Hz–10 mHz. The measurement of the dielectric constants of the real and imaginary parts shows strong frequency dependence. The investigations of the dielectric constant using Cole–Cole plots revealed a non-Debye-type dielectric relaxation for Ce⁺³-doped SBN61. It reveals the coexistence of the two dielectric relaxators in the vicinity of the phase transition.     

Thermal and electrical relaxation studies in Li(4+x)TixNb1−xP3O12 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) phosphate glasses

A new superionic conducting transparent phosphate glasses with composition Li_(4+x)Ti_xNb_1?xP₃O₁₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) were prepared by rapid melt quenching. As quenched samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetric and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies. These glasses were found to have high thermal stability parameter and Li₄NbP₃O₁₂ has been found to have high glass forming ability. Electrical properties of the present glasses were studied by impedance and dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 10 Hz–3 MHz in the temperature range 323–523 K. Arrhenius behavior has been observed for all the glass in conductivity, dielectric loss and conductivity relaxation and their activation energies are explained and reported.     

Crystal structure and impedance study of samarium substituted perovskite: La1−xSmxMnO3 (x = 0.1–0.3)

Three perovskite structured ceramic phases- La_1−xSm_xMnO₃ (where x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) synthesised by solid-state-reaction route crystallize in the rhombohedral symmetry (space group R-3c). The structure refinement converged to satisfactory values of the Rietveld parameters: Rp, Rwp and goodness of fit. The unit cell volume decreases slightly with increasing mole% of samarium in lanthanum manganite matrix. The M–O stretching and bending vibrations in the infrared region have been assigned. Morphology and compositional analysis have been carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX) of the specimens. The electrical properties have been investigated by impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range 42 Hz–5 MHz at temperatures between 50° and 300 °C. Nyquist plots show the dominance of grain contribution and Debye like relaxation in the material. The compounds exhibit composition dependent Arrhenius-type of electrical conductivity.     

Dielectric,impedance and excitation performance of Aurivillius oxides: Bi4Pb2Zr2TiFeNbO18

The Aurivillius phase-based composition bearing chemical formula Bi₄Pb₂Zr₂TiFeNbO₁₈ (termed as BPZTFNO) was synthesized by a solid-state method. The structural analysis as obtained from the X-ray pattern has depicted an orthorhombic phase. The various size and morphology of grains are distributed throughout the natural surface as revealed from microstructure analysis. The dielectric and electrical study of the BPZTFNO is taken at a various sweep of frequency (1 kHz–1 MHz) and temperatures (25–400 °C). The ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition is well illustrated from the temperature-dependent dielectric constant. The complex impedance analysis suggests the association of grain effect. The relaxation of non-Debye nature is shown in the impedance study. The formed sample is subjected to an electric field and further its excitation performance is examined suggesting its possible usage in devices.     

Structural and transport properties of nanocrystalline MnFe2O4 synthesized by co-precipitation method

Nanocrystalline MnFe₂O₄ has been synthesized by co-precipitation methods. X-ray diffraction studies were carried out for the determination of phase purity, crystal structure and average crystallite size. X-ray Absorption Fine Structure spectroscopy has been used to determine the valence state and cationic distribution; these results show that nanocrystalline MnFe₂O₄ has cubic symmetry with 80% inversion. The electrical transport properties were investigated by employing impedance spectroscopy; it has been observed that the dielectric constant decreases with the increase in frequency, the effects of frequency on dielectrical properties are more prominent in the low frequency region, where dielectric constant increases as temperature is increased. However, the ac conductivity is independent of frequency in the low frequency region, <100 Hz, but increases with frequency above 500 Hz. For ac conduction mechanism two models have been presented: in the lower temperature region (233 K–278 K) the small polaron (SP) model has been suggested, whereas for higher temperature regions (above 278 K) the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) mechanism has been proposed.     

Colossal dielectric constant in PrFeO3 semiconductor ceramics

The perovskite PrFeO₃ ceramics were synthesized via sol–gel method. The dielectric properties and impedance spectroscopy (IS) of these ceramics were studied in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 1000 kHz in the temperature range from 80 K to 300 K. These materials exhibited colossal dielectric constant value of ∼10⁴ at room temperature. The response is similar to that observed for relaxorferroelectrics. IS data analysis indicates the ceramics to be electrically heterogeneous semiconductor consisting of semiconducting grains with dielectric constant 30 and more resistive grain boundaries with effective dielectric constant ∼10⁴. We conclude, therefore that grain boundary effect is the primary source for the high effective permittivity in PrFeO₃ ceramics.     

Dielectric and impedance properties of Sr(Sm0.5Nb0.5)O3 ceramics

Perovskite types Sr(Sm_0.5Nb_0.5)O₃, (SSN) ceramics have been prepared through solid state reaction route. The scanning electron microscopy provides information on the quality of the samples and uniform grain distribution over the surface of the samples. The field dependence of the dielectric response was measured in a frequency range from 50 Hz to 1 MHz and in a temperature range from 60 °C to 420 °C indicates polydispersive nature of the materials. An analysis of the dielectric constant (?′) and tangent loss (tanδ) with frequency is performed assuming a distribution of relaxation times as confirmed by the scaling behavior of electric modulus spectra. The frequency dependence of the electric modulus peak is found to obey Arrhenius law with activation energy of ∼0.026 eV. The complex plane impedance plot shows the grain boundary contribution for higher value of dielectric constant in the law frequency region. The frequency dependence of electrical data is also analyzed in the framework of conductivity and electric modulus formalisms. Both these formalisms show qualitative similarities in relaxation times. The scaling behavior of imaginary part of electric modulus M″ suggests that the relaxation describes the same mechanism at various temperatures in SSN.     

Dielectric relaxations in PEEK by combined dynamic dielectric spectroscopy and thermally stimulated current

The molecular dynamics of a quenched poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) was studied over a broad frequency range from 10^?3 to 10⁶ Hz by combining dynamic dielectric spectroscopy (DDS) and thermo-stimulated current (TSC) analysis. The dielectric relaxation losses ε′′_KK has been determined from the real part ε′_T(ω) thanks to Kramers–Kronig transform. In this way, conduction and relaxation processes can be analyzed independently. Two secondary dipolar relaxations, the γ and the β modes, corresponding to non-cooperative localized molecular mobility have been pointed out. The main α relaxation appeared close to the glass transition temperature as determined by DSC; it has been attributed to the delocalized cooperative mobility of the free amorphous phase. The relaxation times of dielectric relaxations determined with TSC at low frequency converge with relaxation times extracted from DDS at high frequency. This correlation emphasized continuity of mobility kinetics between vitreous and liquid state. The dielectric spectroscopy exhibits the α_c relaxation, near 443 K, which has been associated with the rigid amorphous phase confined by crystallites. This present experiment demonstrates coherence of the dynamics of the PEEK heterogeneous amorphous phase between glassy and liquid state and significantly improve the knowledge of molecular/dynamic structure relationships.     

Synthesis and electrical properties of (LiCo3/5Fe1/5Mn1/5)VO4 ceramics

(LiCo_3/5Fe_1/5Mn_1/5)VO₄ ceramic was synthesized via solution-based chemical method. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out on the synthesized powder sample at room temperature, which confirms the orthorhombic structure with the lattice parameters of a = 10.3646 (20) Å, b = 3.7926 (20) Å, c = 9.2131 (20) Å. Field emission scanning electron microscopic analysis was carried out on the sintered pellet sample that indicates grains of unequal sizes (～0.1 to 2 μm) presents average grains size with polydisperse distribution on the surface of the ceramic. Complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) technique is used for the study of electrical properties. CIS analysis identifies: (i) grain interior, grain boundary and electrode–material interface contributions to electrical response (ii) the presence of temperature dependent electrical relaxation phenomena in the ceramics. Detailed conductivity study indicates that electrical conduction in the material is a thermally activated process. The variation of A.C. conductivity with frequency at different temperatures obeys Jonscher's universal law.     

Hindered reorientation of chiral molecules around their long axes in the S*C phase

Abstract

In this work, the high frequency dielectric relaxation process has been studied for the N*, S*_A and S*_C phases of the mixture ZLI 3654. To this end, time domain spectroscopy (TDS) was used to cover the frequency range from 10⁷ to 10¹⁰ Hz. The dielectric parameters obtained show that the high frequency spectrum is mostly influenced by the reorientation of molecules around their long axes. In addition, the latter process seems to be strongly hindered in the S*_C phase, because the necessary relaxation time is of the order of 1 ns, whereas for the N* and S*_A phases, the relaxation time is remarkably shorter and equal to 0.3 and 0.4 ns, respectively.     

Wide-frequency-range dielectric response of polystyrene latex dispersions

In this work we analyze the dielectric properties of dilute colloidal suspensions of nonconducting spherical particles with a thin electrical double layer from experimental data obtained by performing impedance spectroscopy experiments over a broad frequency range, from 20 Hz to 1 GHz. The electrode polarization correction was made by fitting a circuit model in the complex impedance plane (impedance spectrum) using a constant phase angle (CPA) element to fit the electrode polarization in series with the sample impedance. This simple procedure is found to be effective in eliminating the electrode contribution. The dielectric response shows two different dispersions, the alpha relaxation (counterion relaxation) that occurs at low kilohertz frequencies, and the delta relaxation (Maxwell-Wagner effect) found in the MHz range. These are reasonably well fitted over a broad frequency range by the theoretical expressions given by a simplified standard model (not including anomalous conduction) and a generalized model (including anomalous conduction) for the low-frequency dispersion, plus Maxwell-Wagner-O'Konski theory for the delta relaxation in the mid-frequency range. An analysis was also made of the need to include, for these latices, the effects of ion mobility in the Stern layer in order for the values of the zeta-potential obtained from electrophoretic and dielectric data to be compatible with each other.     

Ac conductivity,electric modulus analysis,dielectric behavior and Bond Valence Sum analysis of Na3Nb4As3O19 compound

The Na₃Nb₄As₃O₁₉ compound is synthesized by solid state reaction method and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The structure is described as a three-dimensional anionic framework having two kinds of tunnels where sodium cations are located. The framework of the title compound is thus of open character and the motion of sodium cations through the tunnels seems to be feasible. This factor led us to study the ionic conduction. In this work, we present the dielectric and electrical properties of Na₃Nb₄As₃O₁₉ compound by using the complex impedance spectroscopy technique, in the frequency range 0.01 – 13000 kHz. The conductivity measurements of the obtained ceramic are studied over a temperature range from 300 to 620 °C. The real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant were found to decrease with frequency and to increase with temperature. The values of the frequency of the maximum of the imaginary part of the modulus and of the impedance are different indicating a non-Debye type of relaxation process. The values of the activation energy (E_a) calculated by different methods are in conformity. The Bond Valence Sum (BVS) model is used to identify the conduction pathways for the monovalent cations, allowing a better correlation between the electrical and the structural data. It suggests that the most probable sodium conduction pathway is along c-direction.     

Low-frequency relaxation modes in ferroelectric liquid crystal/gold nanoparticle dispersion: impact of nanoparticle shape

Low-frequency (1 mHz–100 Hz) dielectric relaxation modes were experimentally studied in ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC)/gold nanoparticles (nanospheres and nanorods) dispersion. It was demonstrated that the dielectric spectra of nanodispersion are strongly influenced by the shape of nanoparticles. Using different formalisms of the impedance spectroscopy, three possible low-frequency relaxation processes were found in the dispersions and the pure FLC. Due to the electrical double layers (EDLs) near nanoparticles and the alignment layers, one can observe the relaxation of the EDL polarisation around the nanoparticles (Schwarz’s relaxation) and near the driving indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes (electrode polarisation). The other possible relaxation process is interfacial polarisation (Maxwell–Wagner mode) in which the frequency is unaffected by the nanoparticles. It was shown that Schwarz’s relaxation frequency strongly depended on the shape and size of the nanoparticles. Moreover, dispersion of nanoparticles significantly reduced direct current conductivity of the FLC mixture.     

Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy in poly(hydroxyethyl acrylates)/water hydrogels

The electrical and dielectric properties of poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate), PHEA, hydrogels were studied by means of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy in wide ranges of frequencies (5–2 × 10⁹ Hz), temperatures (173–363 K) and water contents (0.065–0.46, g of water per gram of dry material). The secondary dipolar mechanisms (γ and β_sw) and the dc conductivity mechanism were studied in detail by analyzing the dielectric susceptibility data within the complex permittivity formalism, the modulus formalism, and the complex impedance formalism. For both mechanisms molecular mobility was found to increase with increasing temperature or increasing water content (T-f-h superposition principle). The energy parameters and the shape parameters of the response were determined for both mechanisms at several water contents and temperatures. The temperature dependence of dc conductivity was found to change from Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher (VTF) type to Arrhenius type at water contents of ca. 0.30. At water contents lower than about 0.30 the hydrogels are homogeneous whereas at higher water contents a separate water phase appears. In terms of the strong/fragile classification scheme our results suggest that the PHEA hydrogels are fragile systems. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.