Influence of iridium (Ir) doping on the structural, electrical, and dielectric properties of LuFeO3 perovskite compound.

• LuFeO3 (LFO) and Ir doped LFO were prepared by solid-state reaction. • Ir substitution lowers the ratio of Fe2 + ions in LFO structure. • LFO and Ir doped LFO have multiple relaxations. • Dielectric constant and electrical conductivity were deteriorated after Ir doping. • Conduction mechanism can be explained by multiple models depending upon frequency and temperature. Rare-earth ferrites have been intensively investigated owing to their magnetic, electrical, and optical features in the literature. The present quest goals to examine the electrical properties of LuFeO 3 (LFO) and LuFe 1−x Ir x O 3 (LFIO) ceramics with different mol%, x = 0.05 and 0.10. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) method was utilized to identify the crystal nature of the obtained powders. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was exploited to examine the surface topography of the fabricated pellets. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to find out the valence states of lutetium (Lu) (data is not presented here), iron (Fe), and iridium (Ir). Electrical modulus, dielectric constant, and conductivity of LFO and LFIO ceramics were detailed by dielectric/impedance spectroscopy measurements, which were performed at between − 100 °C (173 K) up to 100 °C (373 K) with 20 °C temperature step. It was exhibited that the undoped LFO has a higher dielectric constant and conductivity than the Ir doped samples. Such a decrement in both dielectric constants and conductivity was related to i) reduction in the ratio of Fe2+ ions and ii) defects and/or distortion in the LFO structure due to Ir substitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]