Small angle neutron scattering investigation and the low frequency dielectric response of sinteredZrO2–8 mol%Y2O3 ceramic compacts: the effect of pore characteristics

Abstract

The effect of the pore structure on the low frequency (0.01–100 kHz) dielectric response of sinteredZrO2–8 mol% Y2O3 ceramic compacts has been investigated. Pore characteristics such as the pore sizedistribution, specific surface area and pore morphology have been estimated by means ofsmall angle neutron scattering (SANS). It has been observed that both the real and theimaginary parts of the complex dielectric permittivity for the specimens depend not onlyon the porosity but also on the pore characteristics, significantly. Unlike in the normalDebye relaxation process, the imaginary part of the dielectric constant increases in thelower frequency region. The variation in the dielectric response is explained by apore structure dependent interfacial polarization, ion hopping and conduction.