Synthesis and electrical characterization of Ca2Nd4Ti6O20 ceramics.

Authors :: Muhammad, Raz
Uzair, Muhammad
Javid Iqbal, M.
Jawad Khan, M.
Iqbal, Yaseen
Rambo, Carlos R.
Source :: Materials Science-Poland; Mar2016, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p164-168, 5p
Publication Year :: 2016
Abstract: Ca<subscript>2</subscript>Nd<subscript>4</subscript>Ti<subscript>6</subscript>O<subscript>20</subscript>, a layered perovskite structured material was synthesized via a chemical (citrate sol-gel) route for the first time using nitrates and alkoxide precursors. Phase analysis of a sample sintered at 1625 °C revealed the formation of an orthorhombic (Pbn21) symmetry. The microstructure of the sample after sintering comprised rod-shaped grains of a size of 1.5 to 6.5 μm. The room temperature dielectric constant of the sintered sample was 38 at 100 kHz. The remnant polarization (P<subscript>r</subscript>) and the coercive field (E<subscript>c</subscript>) were about 400 μC/cm<superscript>2</superscript> and 8.4 kV/cm, respectively. Impedance spectroscopy revealed that the capacitance (13.7 pF) and activation energy (1.39 eV) of the grain boundary was greater than the capacitance (5.7 pF) and activation energy (1.13 eV) of the grain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]