Colossal dielectric response in Ba1.5Sr1.5Co2Fe24O41 ceramics at high-temperature

Polycrystalline Ba1.5Sr1.5Co2Fe24O41 ceramics were prepared by the sol–gel method with clear grains and grain boundaries having been identified by the scanning electron microscopy. High-temperature colossal dielectric response has been observed and studied through a series of dielectric and impedance measurements. The electrode effect was also studied and the measurement findings reveal that the colossal dielectric permittivity at low frequency is ascribed to the extrinsic effect of Maxwell Wagner polarization. Dielectric relaxation was identified and investigated by the impedance spectra, which is attributed to the thermally activated model. The complex impedance data is simulated with an equivalent electric circuit and the result suggests that the electric response originates from both the grains and grain boundaries. The activation energies of the grains and grain boundaries are calculated which are 0.62 and 0.67 eV, respectively. The comparable activation energies obtained from the complex impedance spectra and DC conductivity indicates that the relaxation may result from the conduction process. Besides, scaling behaviors are observed below 550 K suggesting that the relaxation time is temperature independent.