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The ceramic compound CuFe2O4 was synthesised via conventional high-temperature solid-state reaction route. The structural study of the compound was done using X-ray diffraction technique. The preliminary structural study was performed using POWD software and a tetragonal structure was suggested. The Rietveld refinement of XRD (X-ray Diffraction) data was carried out using FullProf software and the refined lattice parameters were obtained as a = 5.80030 Å and c = 8.69400 Å with high tetragonality ratio. The crystallite size and lattice strain were calculated using Williamson–Hall (W-H) plot. The temperature and frequency dependent electrical properties of this compound are analysed using complex impedance technique. The impedance and modulus study of the compound showed the contribution of intra-grain effect to the overall electrical response. The studied ceramic possessed a non-Debye-type relaxation mechanism. The bulk resistance decreased with the increase in temperature, thus showing negative temperature coefficient of resistance behaviour. Modulus and conductivity study showed the evidence of conduction via hopping mechanism inside the material. Frequency-dependent AC conductivity followed Jonscher's universal power law. The Arrhenius equation was fitted with the temperature-dependent AC conductivity at different frequencies, and activation energies were determined to understand the charge species involved in the conduction mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping of suitable metal ions in ferroelectric oxides modifies the physical properties and can induce additional functionalities. Here, we present a detailed study on the effects of Sm concentration on the structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of ((K0.5Na0.5)1−3xSmx)NbO3 (KNSN) (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.02) ceramics. X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic analysis indicate that KNSN ceramics exhibit the single‐phase orthorhombic (Amm2) structure for x = 0.00 and the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal (Amm2 + P4mm) structure for the composition range 0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.02. The tetragonal phase fraction increases with an increase in Sm concentration. We observed dielectric relaxation behavior in KNSN at orthorhombic to tetragonal (TO–T) phase transition temperature, and its origin can be attributed to the structural heterogeneity at the inter‐ferroelectric phase boundary. Increasing Sm concentration leads to the broadening of the ferroelectric phase transition peaks. Further, the structural heterogeneity of the ceramics was seen from the slope of the dielectric constant versus log frequency and central peak behavior of Raman spectra at room temperature (RT). The study reveals that x = 0.005 shows maximum dielectric constant (Ɛr = 583), remanent polarization (2Pr = 57.02 μC/cm2), and piezoelectric coefficient (d33 = 94 pC/N) at RT and is associated with increased local structural heterogeneity due to Sm doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile solvent casting technique has been reported in the fabrication of surface hydroxylated ZnFe2O4 (h‐ZFO) nanoparticles (NPs) filled with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) as a matrix. The h‐ZFO filler particles are synthesized from neat ZnFe2O4. The dielectric and electric performance of polymer‐based composites is much related to the interface binding between filler particles and polymer matrix. In this work, the surface alternation technique employed a new path is developed to improve the compatibility between ZFO particles and the PVDF matrix. These PVDF‐ZFO composites were studied by X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The h‐ZFO‐PVDF and ZFO‐PVDF composites are carefully analyzed by dielectric and electric properties by a wide range of frequencies. However, the morphological analysis exhibits uniform dispersion of the h‐ZFO NPs in the PVDF matrix. The h‐ZFO‐PVDF composites have a dielectric constant of about 35 for 1.5 wt.% of filler contents. Moreover, the h‐ZFO‐PVDF composites have lower dielectric loss than PVDF‐ZFO composites. It is suggested that the strong interaction between h‐ZFO filler particles and the PVDF matrix is the main reason for the improvement of dielectric properties. The outcomes of these methods have great potential for making high dielectric constants and relatively suppressed loss PVDF‐ZFO composites for advanced practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we are presenting the effect of B-site co-doping with Sn and Zr (2% each) on frequency and temperature-dependent dielectric and electrical properties of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 (BST). The desired compound is synthesised following solid-state reaction route and the structural and micro-structural study of the resulting compound is done using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique. XRD study revealed that the parent structure of BST is mostly retained after co-doping. SEM micrograph analysis presented dense packing of grains of different sizes distributed all over the volume of compound formed. The compound was found to have a moderate value of dielectric constant and low tangent loss along with a near stable response of these dielectric properties over the studied frequency range, suggesting its possible application in tuneable matching networks and frequency agile antennas. Electrical properties study suggested a non-Debye type electrical response with a thermally activated conduction mechanism occurring in the material. The dependence of conductivity with temperature showed negative temperature coefficient of temperature behaviour of the compound and the ac conductivity spectrum followed Johnscher's power law. The variation of exponent with temperature suggested correlated barrier hopping conduction mechanism in the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embracing mixed oxide state response course, lead-free polycrystalline 0.075(K0.5Bi0.5TiO3)–0.925 (NaNbO3) or 0.075 (KBT)–0.925 (NN) ceramic integrate, and its optical, auxiliary, dielectric, ferroelectric, and impedance properties are investigated. Basic examination represents the arrangement of new perovskite, with an orthorhombic structure having space bunch as Pmc21. FESEM micrograph proves the closeness of homogeneous nature in morphology. FTIR analysis suggests that there is a change in the vibrational mode of phonons due to the inclusion of NN with KBT. The optical band gap of the material is 3.06 eV as obtained from the diffuse absorbance spectra which is suitable for the photo-catalytic application. From Raman spectra, it is seen quite different vibrational modes from 130 to 900 cm−1. Polarization study affirms the ferroelectric idea of the present investigation. Dielectric and complex impedance investigations are carried out in the frequency range of 102–106 Hz and temperature range of 30–500 °C. AC conductivity range is represented by Jonscher's power law. AC conductivity reveals the semiconducting nature of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric materials exhibiting switchable and spontaneous polarization have strong potential to be utilized in various novel electronic devices. Solid solutions of different perovskite structures induce the coexistence of various phases and enhance the physical functionalities around the phase coexistence region. The construction of phase diagrams is important as they describe the material properties, which are linked to the underpinning physics determining the system. Here we present the phase diagram of (K0.5Na0.5NbO3)–(Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3) (KNN-BST) system as a function of composition and their associated physical properties. Lead-free (1 − x)KNN–xBST (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) solid solution ceramics were synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction technique. The X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic studies indicate composition-dependent structural phase transitions from an orthorhombic phase for x = 0 to orthorhombic + tetragonal dual-phase (for 0.025 ≤ x ≤ 0.15), then a tetragonal + cubic dual-phase (x = 0.2) and finally a cubic single phase for x ≥ 0.25 at room temperature (RT). Among these, the orthorhombic + tetragonal dual-phase system shows an enhanced value of the dielectric constant at room temperature. The phase transition temperatures, orthorhombic to tetragonal (TO-T) and tetragonal to cubic (TC), decrease with the increase in BST concentrations. The ferroelectric studies show a decrease of both 2Pr and EC values with a rise in BST concentration and x = 0.025 showed a maximum piezoelectric coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the impact of Nd doping on the structural, microstructural, dielectric, ferroelectric, and transport properties of Pb (1 - x) Nd x (Fe 0.5 Nb 0.5) 1 - x / 4 O 3 (PNFN) solid solutions ( x = 0 , 0.02 , 0.04 , 0.08 , and 0.1 ) is reported. For all the solid solutions, room temperature Rietveld refined X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals the monoclinic crystal structure with Cm space group. From Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) studies, the polyhedral-shaped grains are found to be homogeneously distributed. Variation of dielectric properties with temperature displays the decrease of phase transition temperature (TC) with increasing Nd content. The temperature-dependent AC conductivity follows the Arrhenius behavior and the activation energies are calculated for high temperature regions. The frequency dependent AC conductivity behavior obeys the Johnscher's power law. Impedance spectroscopy results show the impact of conductivity from the bulk (grain) and displays non-Debye type of behaviour. Electric modulus demonstrates thermally activated relaxation phenomenon in the materials. Polarization vs. electric field (P-E) loops analysis confirms the ferroelectric nature of the materials. With increase in Nd concentrations, the value of remanent polarization (2Pr) increases, on the other hand, the coercive field (2Ec) value decreases. Both of these properties are suitable for enhancement of the physical properties of the multiferroic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel (Ni)-doped Copper ferrite (inverse spinel ferrite) Cu 1 - X Ni X Fe 2 O 4 (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) are synthesized via sol–gel auto-combustion method. The phase formation is examined by X-ray diffraction technique which confirms the tetragonal structure of all samples at room temperature. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), dielectric, conductivity, impedance and modulus analysis are also carried out to study the morphology and the electrical properties of the ferrites. Dielectric study ( ϵ r vs. T) confirms the presence of frequency dependent dielectric relaxation peak. The temperature (Tm) at which the value of ϵ r is maximum shift towards higher temperature as frequency increases. Dielectric properties have been improved after Ni is doped into Copper ferrite. Both ac and dc conductivity confirms the NTCR behavior in the ferrites. Frequency variation of ac conductivity follows the Jonscher’s power law and the conduction mechanism in the ferrites is well explained by Correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model. Nyquist plot ( Z ′ ′ vs. Z ′ ) reveals combine contribution of both bulk and grain boundary effects in the ferrites. DC conductivity ( σ dc ) and the relaxation time (τ ) obeys Arrhenius type behavior and the modulus study validates the existence of non-Debye type of relaxation. The detail complex impedance and modulus analysis support the usage of many technological applications. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) analyzer shows the soft magnetic nature of as-prepared ferrites and has the potential application towards magnetic storage devices and field sensor. Enhancement of saturation magnetization ( M S ) is also noticed as Ni content is increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]