Conductivity relaxations in single crystals of sodium chloride containing suzuki phase precipitates

Single crystals of NaCl containing volume fractions of up to 28% of the Suzuki phase Cd□Na₆Cl₈ have been subjected to a.c. electrical measurements over a range of frequencies (10-10⁷ Hz). Complex modulus plots and modulus spectra reveal two distinct electrical relaxations arising in the matrix, and the precipitates. The Maxwell layer model and the Maxwell-Wagner model for dispersions of two phases are used to separate the two ionic conductivities. The activation energy for ionic conduction in the Suzuki phase is found to be 0.93 ± 0.05 eV, which is in agreement with a previously reported value obtained on polycrystalline Cd□Na₆Cl₈.