Investigations on structural and electrical properties of conventional and microwave sintered BaTiO3 and Ba0.98Nd0.02TiO3 ceramics.

In this article, BaTiO3 and Ba0.98Nd0.02TiO3 ceramics were prepared by high temperature conventional solid state reaction, followed by microwave sintering (MS) process separately. A comparative study on structural, morphological and electrical properties has been employed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Raman, scanning electron microscope and dielectric and ferroelectric measurements. PXRD and profile refinement analysis results revealed that tetragonal phase at room temperature. The Raman spectroscopy provided useful information on the presence of tetragonal symmetry. Surface morphology of the MS sample showed dramatic changes from scanning electron micrographs. Dielectric and ferroelectric behavior observed for MS sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]