Effect of striae on the high temperature dielectric and electrical properties of lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramics

Abstract

Lithium Aluminosilicate glass-ceramics with striae (LAS-WS) and without striae (LAS-WoS) were processed using melt casting technique. LAS-WS and LAS-WoS samples were characterized and found stress birefringence >10 nm/cm and <10 nm/cm, respectively. LAS-WS and LAS-WoS samples were subjected to structural, microstructural, high temperature dielectric and electrical characterization. The presence of striation did not significantly affected the formation of β-spondumene structure during crystallization heat treatment. TEM image confirms the formation of nanocrystals in the glass matrix of lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramics. The homogeneous distribution of LAS nanocrystals of average size of 3–6 nm is evident from TEM results. Stress birefringence distribution in lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramic clearly shows the striae formation. Shadowgraphy images confirmed the striae free and striae containing regions in the glass-ceramic. The effect of striae on dielectric properties and AC conductivity was analysed using impedance spectroscopy and it was found that the value of the relative permittivity decreased from 415 (1.2 Hz) to 9.76 (1.2 MHz) for LAS-WoS and from 401 (1.2 Hz) to 10.3 (1.2 MHz) for LAS-WS, respectively. It was found that striae in LAS glass-ceramics influence the electrical impedance and AC conductivity relaxation process rather than relative permittivity. The effect of striae on crystallization and morphology are presented. Both the samples have shown crystallinity of more than 75 %. The electrical conductivity of σ = 2.0 × 10−3 S/cm for LAS-WoS and 2.7 × 10−3 S/cm for LAS-WS at 300 °C as well as σ = 4.6 × 10−3 S/cm for LAS-WoS and 6.9 × 10−3 S/cm for LAS-WS at 700 °C are found to be in good agreement due to increase in the electrical conductivity with temperature. The ionic conductivity of the material due to Li-ion mobility with respect to temperature and electric field and possible mechanism of AC conductivity are discussed. The results presented indicates the potential application of this material that demands high temperature operation of lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramics.