Dielectric Relaxation Phenomena Research Articles

Dielectric relaxation, crystal structure and magnetic phenomena in solid solutions based on alkali metal niobates and bismuth ferrite in a wide range of external influences

Solid solutions of the system (1-x)(Na0.5K0.5)NbO3-xBiFeO3 with 0.85 ≤ x ≤ 0.95 have been prepared by two-step solid phase synthesis followed by sintering using conventional ceramic technology. An experimental study of the crystal structure, dielectric spectra in a wide range of temperatures and frequencies of alternating electric field and magnetic phenomena was carried out. The correlation between crystal structure and macro-responses in the temperature range (300 - 800) K has been established. The formation of two relaxation processes of non-Debyev type in the studied solid solutions in the temperature range (529 - 720) K with activation energies of 0.135 eV and 0.329 eV was found.

Investigating Enhanced Microwave Absorption of CNTs@Nd0.15-BaM/PE Plate via Low-Temperature Sintering and High-Energy Ball Milling.

Composite plates comprising a blend of rare earth neodymium-(Nd) doped M-type barium ferrite (BaM) with CNTs (carbon nanotubes) and polyethylene WERE synthesized through a self-propagating reaction and hot-pressing treatment. The plates' microscopic characteristics were analyzed utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analytical techniques. Their microwave absorption performance within the frequency range of 8.2 to 18 GHz was assessed using a vector network analyzer. It showed that CNTs formed a conductive network on the surface of the Nd-BaM absorber, significantly enhancing absorption performance and widening the absorption bandwidth. Furthermore, dielectric polarization relaxation was investigated using the Debye theory, analyzing the Cole-Cole semicircle. It was observed that the sample exhibiting the best absorbing performance displayed the most semicircles, indicating that the dielectric polarization relaxation phenomenon can increase the dielectric relaxation loss of the sample. These findings provide valuable data support for the lightweight preparation of BaM-based absorbing materials.

Growth rate effect on the dielectric properties of FeNbO4 fibres processed by the laser floating zone technique

Fe-based materials exhibiting high dielectric constants have been attracting great attention due to their potential for application in electronic devices. In this work, iron niobate (FeNbO4) fibres were produced by the Laser Floating Zone technique, applying three different growth speeds: 5, 10 and 25 mm/h. The XRD patterns showed the presence of two phases, being the FeNbO4 the major one in all the samples. The effect of the growth speed is well perceptible in the morphology of the fibres. The dielectric measurements revealed that all samples have at least one dielectric relaxation phenomenon that is thermally activated, with the activation energy, estimated through the Arrhenius law, presenting values between 0.057 and 0.072 eV. The Nyquist plots showed the presence of a single semicircle for each temperature, that could be modelled by an equivalent electrical circuit consisting of an offset resistance in series with a parallel combination of a grain resistance and a grain constant phase element. The grain resistance increased with the increasing growth speed, from 574 to 64497 Ω, with the constant phase element showing the opposite trend, decreasing from 0.40 to 0.17 nF.

Development, Dielectric Response, and Functionality of ZnTiO3/BaTiO3/Epoxy Resin Hybrid Nanocomposites

In the present work, hybrid nanocomposites of an epoxy resin reinforced with ZnTiO3 and BaTiO3 nanoparticles, at various filler contents, were fabricated and studied. The successful integration of ceramic nanofillers and the fine distribution of nanoparticles were confirmed via X-ray Diffraction patterns and Scanning Electron Microscopy images, respectively. Dielectric properties and related relaxation phenomena were investigated via Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy in a wide range of frequencies and temperatures. Data analysis showed that dielectric permittivity increases with filler content, although optimum performance does not correspond to the maximum ZnTiO3 content. Four relaxation processes were observed and attributed to interfacial polarization (IP) (at low frequencies and high temperatures), glass-to-rubber transition (α-relaxation) of the epoxy matrix (at intermediate frequencies and temperatures), and local rearrangements of polar side groups of the macromolecules (β-relaxation) and small flexible groups of the main polymer chain (γ-relaxation) occurring at low temperatures and high frequencies. The ability of hybrid nanocomposites to store and retrieve energy was studied under dc conditions by employing a charging/discharging sequence. The stored and retrieved energy increases with filler content and charging voltage. The optimum ability of energy recovering, shown by the epoxy/7 phr ZnTiO3/7 phr BaTiO3 nanocomposite, ranges between 30 and 50 times more than the matrix, depending on the time instant. The employed nanoparticles induce piezoelectric properties in the nanocomposites, as found by the increase in the piezoelectric coefficient with filler content.

Lithium ionic conductivity and structural studies of NASICON structured Li0.4Sr0.3Zr0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3

Stable solid electrolytes have been the subject of intense research due to the growing demand for energy storage and portable energy sources in rechargeable Li-ion batteries. Sodium (NA) super (S) ionic (I) conductor (CON) abbreviated as NASICON are suitable for use as solid electrolytes due to their excellent ionic conductivity and chemical stability. We have reported the effect of partial doping of Sr at Li and Zr4+ at Ti4+ position on the structure and ionic conductivity of composition Li0.4Sr0.3Ti2(PO4)3 (LSTP). The composition with formula Li0.4Sr0.3Ti2−xZrx(PO4)3 (x = 0.0, 0.5, 2.0) were prepared by solid state reaction method. The phase and crystal structure were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The compositions were in rhombohedral phase with the space group R 3¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\overline{3}$$\\end{document} c. The doping of Zr4+ in LSTP causes the peaks in the XRD spectra for doped composition (x = 0.5, 2.0) to move towards lower angle. The displacement of the XRD peaks towards lower angle side show the expansion in the lattice of the Zr doped compositions Li0.4Sr0.3Ti1.5Zr0.5(PO4)3 and Li0.4Sr0.3Zr2(PO4)3. The presence of stretching and bending modes of PO4 groups in the prepared compositions was identified by FTIR spectra. The enhanced bulk conductivity of 4.32 × 10–5 S/cm for Zr doped composition Li0.4Sr0.3Ti1.5Zr0.5(PO4)3 and 3.20 × 10–5 S/cm for composition Li0.4Sr0.3Zr2(PO4)3 is observed at 25 °C. The modulus peaks in the Zr doped composition Li0.4Sr0.3Ti1.5Zr0.5(PO4)3 is displaced towards higher frequencies at 450 °C, indicating the presence of the thermally produced dielectric relaxation phenomenon and charge carrier hopping. The cole cole plot consisting of one semicircle in case of Li0.4Sr0.3Ti1.5Zr0.5(PO4)3 discusses the contribution of bulk and grain boundary resistances and is fitted by equivalent circuit consisting of CPE and R element joined in parallel.

Experimental Investigations on the Electrical Conductivity and Complex Dielectric Permittivity of ZnxMn1−xFe2O4 (x = 0 and 0.4) Ferrites in a Low-Frequency Field

Two samples of ZnxMn1−xFe2O4 (x = 0, sample A; and x = 0.4, sample B) were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. From complex impedance measurements in the range 100 Hz–2 MHz and for temperatures T between 30 and 130 °C, the barrier energy between localized states ΔErelax was determined for the first time in these samples. For sample B, a single value of ΔErelax was highlighted (0.221 eV), whilst, for sample A, two values were obtained (0.012 eV and 0.283 eV, below 85 °C and above 85 °C, respectively), associated with two zones of different conductivities. Using the Mott’s VRH model and the CBH model, we determined for the first time both the bandgap energy barrier (Wm) and the hopping (crossover) frequency (ωh), at various temperatures. The results show that, for sample A, Wm has a maximum equal to 0.72 eV at a temperature between 70 and 80 °C, whilst, for sample B, Wm has a minimum equal to 0.28 eV at a temperature of 60 °C, the results being in good agreement with the temperature dependence of the static conductivity σDC(T) of the samples. By evaluating σDC and eliminating the conduction losses, we identified, using a novel approach, a dielectric relaxation phenomenon in the samples, characterized by the activation energy EA,rel. At various temperatures, we determined EA,rel, which ranged from 0.195 eV to 0.77 eV. These results are important, as understanding these electrical properties is crucial to various applications, especially in technologies where temperature variation is significant.

Investigation of Morphology, Optical and Electronic Ac Conduction of the Olivine Manganite Compound: NaMnPO4

AbstractThe evolution of multifunctional materials is an outstanding research area, which aims to improve the versatility of materials according to their broad domains of usage. Focus interest was paid here to the orthophosphate compound, in particular, the olivine NaMnPO4 material. This compound was synthesized by a solid‐state method and investigated using numerous techniques. Primary room‐temperature structural analysis evidences the sample synthesized in the orthorhombic structure and its phase purity. The sample‘s average grain size was calculated to be around 420 nm. Further, the band gap for our material was found to be (Eg=4.4 eV) by optical analysis of UV‐visible spectroscopy, revealing that our compound is a potential candidate for optoelectronic applications. The electrical behavior study‘s main results confirm the ferroelectric character of the sample and support the aim of deepening the knowledge of the material according to its thermally stimulated conduction processes through impedance spectroscopy. Electrical studies revealed the dominant transport processes across various temperature and frequency ranges, leading to the NSPT model. The frequency dependency relates to frequency‐dispersive dielectric spectra, conduction mechanisms, and relaxation phenomena. The obtained results show perspective and suggest that the material under study has a wide range of potential electronic applications.

Dielectric relaxation studies in Sm2O3 doped boro-zinc-vanadate glasses

In this work, the conventional melting procedure was adopted to synthesize glasses with a composition of (ZnO)0.3 – (V2O5)0.3 – (B2O3)0.4-x – (Sm2O3)x, x = 0.002, 0.005, 0.007, 0.01 and 0.02 mol%. The dielectric properties of these glasses were measured. The dielectric constant (εʹ) and dielectric loss (εʹʹ) of glasses are found to vary in the range from 1.9177x102 to 3.9456x103 and from 1.5751 to 6.9095x105 respectively for the temperature range 343 K – 573 K and frequency range 50 Hz to 10 MHz. With increase of frequency, both dielectric constant and loss decreased and increased with increase of temperature. The analysis of dielectric constant and dielectric loss confirmed that the phenomenon of dielectric relaxation is mainly due to the frequency-dependent polarization mechanism. Electric modulus and impedence spectroscopy revealed non-Debye type and a single phase relaxation process. Activation energy for dc conductivity and dielectric relaxation are found to be of same size indicating that the potential barrier encountered by the charge carriers is same in both the processes. The master curves suggested that temperature-independent relaxation is occurring in the present glasses. The high values of measured dielectric parameters suggest that the present glasses are suitable in semiconducting and energy storage applications.

Structural, optical, and impedance spectroscopy of the pseudobrookite Pb0·5Ba0·5Fe2O5 synthesized by sol–gel route

Pseudobrookite of general formula Pb0·5Ba0·5Fe2O5 was synthesized by the sol–gel route. X-ray diffraction confirms the orthorhombic Pnma space group of our sample. UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy was used to characterize this material's optical properties. We used the Tauc model and absorption measurements to estimate the direct optical band gap at 3.53 eV. We also calculate the Urbach energy, the optical extinction coefficient, and the refractive index. In addition, the skin depth, optical conductivity, and Cauchy parameters were investigated in relation to the incident photon's wavelength. Electrical conductivity data flow the Jonscher's power law and show that PBFO has two different conducts; Semiconductor behavior in the temperatures region [400 K–520 K]. Then, a metallic trend was detected beyond TS-M = 520 K. The correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model is the appropriate model to describe the conduction process in low temperature range. On the other hand, the conduction is ensured by the non-overlapping small polaron tunneling (NSPT) at high temperature zone. The scaling study shows that the conductivity spectra deviate from Summerfield and Ghosh scaling. The random barrier model (RBM) is employed to correct the Summerfield approach and we note that the conductivity isotherms are combined into a single master curve. The estimated activation energies values from dc-conductivity, hopping frequency and relaxation time are very close. The behavior of dielectric parameters was examined using the Maxwell-Wagner theory of interfacial polarization. The dielectric-relaxation phenomenon is shown by the behaviors of imaginary parts of impedance (Z″) and modulus (M″). The ideal electrical equivalent circuit for simulating the Nyquist curves (i.e. Z′′(Z′)) for our pseudobrookite is (Rg + Rgb//CPEgb). Finally, the entropy (ΔS), and enthalpy (ΔH) were established as thermodynamic parameters.

Close-packing effect of water clusters within metal-organic framework pores on proton conductivity: a dielectric relaxation phenomenon in loose space and colossal dielectric permittivity.

Proton-conducting metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted tremendous attention for their promising application in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. Water clusters play an extremely important role in the proton-conduction process and affect the proton conductivity of host materials. To date, the close-packing effect of water clusters within pores on proton conductivity due to the amorphous structure of commercial proton-exchange membranes is unclear. Herein, we prepared two crystalline MOFs containing different water clusters, namely, [Sm2(fum)3(H2O)4]·3H2O (Sm-fum-7H2O) and [Er2(fum)3(H2O)4]·8H2O (Er-fum-12H2O) (H2fum = fumaric acid), and regulated their proton conductivities by changing the water clusters. As expected, Sm-fum-7H2O showed a high proton conductivity of 6.89 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 333 K and ∼97% RH because of the close packing of the water clusters within the pores triggered by a lanthanide contraction effect, outperforming that of Er-fum-12H2O and some previously reported MOFs. Additionally, Sm-fum-7H2O and Er-fum-12H2O demonstrated high dielectric functions, reaching 2.22 × 103 and 1.42 × 105 at 102.5 Hz, respectively, making Er-fum-12H2O a highly dielectric material. More importantly, broadband dielectric spectroscopy measurements indicated that there was a dielectric relaxation process in Er-fum-12H2O with an activation energy of 0.59 eV. The present findings provide a better understanding of the crucial role of confined water clusters in proton conductivity and the novel phenomenon of the coexistence of proton conduction and dielectric relaxation in crystalline MOF materials.

Dielectric relaxation and conductivity phenomena in ferroelectric ceramics at high temperatures

The issues related to microstructure and its effects on functional properties of electroceramics become increasingly prominent with the progressive downscaling of electronics. In this study, temperature-dependent dielectric and impedance data of BaTiO3 (BT), Sr-doped BT (BST) and layer-structured BaBi4Ti4O15 (BBTO) ceramics are systematically investigated to reveal the effects of doping and perovskite layering on the dielectric relaxation and conduction processes at high temperatures. By using complex impedance spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that the ceramics are electrically heterogeneous structures displaying a non-ideal Debye-like behavior at high temperatures. Using a suitable equivalent circuit model, the impedance diagrams at different temperatures are simulated and the refined values of macroscopic resistance and capacitance are used for the identification and characterization of particular microstructural regions (grains, grain boundaries, interfaces, etc.). The approach of combining the impedance, electric modulus and permittivity formalisms is demonstrated to be effective in explaining the peculiarities of the electrical charge transport mechanism and relaxation in the grains, grain boundaries and interface layers of the ceramics.

Insights into structural, electronic, optical properties, and impedance spectroscopy of semi-doped perovskite Nd0.5Ba0.5CoO3: A theoretical and experimental study

In this study, the electronic, structural, and optical properties of semi-doped perovskite Nd0.5Ba0.5CoO3 (NBCO) were investigate using the CASTEP software, which relies on density functional theory (DFT) along with the correlation function of generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE). The mesh parameters of the (super) cell indicate that NBCO adopts an orthorhombic structure in the Pmmm space group, featuring a Coulomb Energy (EC) of approximately −244 eV. DFT and total density of states (DOS) analyses reveal that the as-prepared perovskite manifests metallic characteristics, and a notable covalent interaction is observed between the O-p and Co-d spin states, indicating strong hybridization between these orbitals. Remarkably, NBCO demonstrates 100 % spin polarization (P) at the Fermi level, with a calculated total magnetic moment of approximately 3.44 μB. Moreover, low dielectric loss (tgδ) values suggest facile electron movement, and impedance spectroscopy illustrates a dielectric relaxation phenomenon. DFT calculations predict an orthorhombic crystal structure with higher electron density at cobalt atom positions. Band structure and DOS analyses affirm metallic behavior owing to the robust hybridization between oxygen-p and cobalt-d orbitals. Optical property assessments reveal potential applications in spintronics and optoelectronics, with notable absorption in the ultraviolet–visible range. The conductivity spectra from impedance spectroscopy contribute to understanding temperature-dependent charge transport mechanisms. Dielectric constants decrease with increasing frequency and temperature, while dielectric losses remain low, indicating efficient electron movement. The material adheres to a metallic conduction mechanism as described by Drude's law, and the material's 100 % spin polarization at the Fermi level and a total magnetic moment of 3.44 μB are significant findings. Negative dielectric constants observed at specific frequencies suggest potential applications in metamaterials. Overall, the determined properties position NBCO cobaltite as a promising candidate for high-frequency devices, spintronic components, and sensors.

Graphene nanoplatelets anchored into Ag doped spinel CoFe2O4 nanohybrid: Synthesis, structural, electrical, superior dielectric and room temperature induced ferromagnetism performance for high frequency device application

Graphene (GnPs) incorporated Ag-CoFe2O4 nanocomposite was synthesized using a simple solvothermal method using green synthesis method by okra plant extract. The prepared materials were micro-analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectra, Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) microanalysis. The average particle size obtained from XRD data was calculated to be 32.6 nm for Ag- CFO nanoparticles and 24 nm for GnPs doped Ag- CFO nanocomposite which was in good agreement with the particle size (in nm) estimated from the FESEM and TEM micrographs. The effective charge carriers transfer from the from Ag- CFO nanoferrites to graphene pallets and in case of GnPs incorporated Ag- CFO nanocomposite and the long-drawn-out recombination of electron–hole pairs were evidently shown by means of room temperature PL measurements. The photocurrent values well support the PL measurements signifying transfer of the electron-hole pairs. Light dependent Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy indicates the incidence of a light dependent dielectric relaxation phenomenon. Massive dielectric values with low loss suggest the GnPs doped nanohybrid to be well suited for high frequency device application. Interestingly, incorporation of GnPs alters the electronic configuration of the nanocomposites inducing ferromagnetic interaction.

Investigation of structural, topological, and electrical properties of scheelite strontium molybdate for electronic devices

This article describes the synthesis (solid-state reaction) and characterizations of a scheelite strontium molybdate. The consistency of lattice parameters by N-TREOR09 and the Le-Bail Rietveld refinement method supports the tetragonal crystal system. The spectrum of the pair distribution function (PDF) depicts the orientations of atoms within a tetragonal symmetry. The Williamson-Hall plot examines the average crystallite size (86 nm) and micro-lattice strain (0.00091). The scanning electron microscopic image, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra, and elemental mapping confirm the uniform and isotropic characteristics of the synthesized material, purity and compactness, and topographic roughness according to ISO25178 standards. The investigation of dielectric, impedance, and conductivity spectra confirms the presence of Maxwell-Wagner dielectric dispersion, relaxation, and influential transport phenomena across a broad spectrum of experimental frequencies (ranging from 1 kHz to 1 MHz) and temperatures (from 25 °C to 500 °C). The observed temperature-dependent resistance characteristics validate that the prepared material is well-suited for applications involving PTC thermistors, sensors, and other related devices. The scaling properties of the modulus data provide evidence for a non-Debye relaxation mechanism. The values of the varistor constant, β1, β2, and β3, which are 1.414, 2.362, and 9.654, respectively, indicate the existence of Ohmic conduction, trap-limited space charge limited conduction (SCLC), and trap-filled SCLC mechanisms suitable for electronic devices.

Suggesting a new modification of the Cole–Cole model for the purposes of explaining and describing the optical dielectric relaxation phenomena

Suggesting a new modification of the Cole–Cole model for the purposes of explaining and describing the optical dielectric relaxation phenomena

Studies of the microstructural, magnetic, electrical, and dielectric properties of Mg0.6T0.4Cr2O4 (T = Ni, Cu) spinel chromites for magnetic, high frequency, and microwave applications

In this study, the structural, morphological, magnetic, electrical, and dielectric properties of Mg0.6T0.4Cr2O4 (T = Ni, Cu) spinel chromites were studied. The X-ray diffraction data reveal that the average crystallite size, lattice constant, and X-ray density increase with the substitution of Ni by Cu. The average crystallite size value rises from 58 nm (for Mg0.6Ni0.4Cr2O4) to 73 nm (for Mg0.6Cu0.4Cr2O4). However, saturation magnetization (Ms) decreases from 0.061 emu/g for Mg0.6Ni0.4Cr2O4 to 0.058 emu/g for Mg0.6Cu0.4Cr2O4. The decline in Ms is due to the lower magnetic moment of Cu2+ ions compared to that of Ni2+ ions. Low Hc coercive fields were obtained (53 Oe and 40 Oe for Mg0.6Ni0.4Cr2O4 and Mg0.6Cu0.4Cr2O4, respectively), indicating that the synthesized samples are suitable for use in soft magnetic devices. Temperature and frequency-dependent impedance spectroscopy measurements have been used to study the samples' electrical properties. The NSPT and CBH models were used to explain the samples' conduction process. Due to the increase in crystallite size, the activation energy (Ea) is lower for Mg0.6Cu0.4Cr2O4 (0.136 eV) than Mg0.6Ni0.4Cr2O4 (0.250 eV). The sample impedance properties were interpreted by modeling Nyquist diagrams considering grain and grain boundary contributions. Dielectric-relaxation phenomenon is observed from sample impedance curves. Mg0.6Ni0.4Cr2O4 conductivity data collapse into a single master curve, as predicted by the Ghosh scaling model. However, for Mg0.6Cu0.4Cr2O4, the Summerfield scaling model is more appropriate. Furthermore, the synthesized materials demonstrate high electrical resistivity, as well as low dielectric constants and losses at higher frequencies, making them appropriate for use in microwave absorption devices and high-frequency applications.

Structural, Morphological and Dielectric Characterization of BiFeO3 Fibers Grown by the LFZ Technique

BiFeO3 fibers were prepared by the Laser Floating Zone (LFZ) technique using different growth speeds. The structural characterization of the samples was undertaken using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, the morphological characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the electrical characterization by impedance spectroscopy. The XRD patterns showed that BiFeO3 was the major phase in all the samples. Fibers grown at 10 mm/h showed more promising structural and morphological properties. The dielectric characterization revealed that all samples have at least one dielectric relaxation phenomenon that is thermally activated. It was also verified that the dielectric constant is higher at a growth pull rate speed of 10 mm/h.

A distinct structure of TiC for electromagnetic interference shielding and thermal stability of SiTiOC ceramic nanocomposites

Materials capable of thermal stability electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding have practical significance in the fields of aerospace. In this paper, a brand-new polymer-derived SiTiOC ceramic nanocomposites with tubular carbon was designed. The titanium atoms were uniformly introduced into the polysiloxane backbone by the transesterification between tetrabutyl titanate and silanol prepolymer, leading to excellent thermal stability properties. By controlling the pyrolysis temperature, a distinct structure of TiC was formed between the amorphous SiTiOC matrix and free carbon phase for enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding performance. More conductive paths were established, and the TiC structure initiated interfacial polarization and space charge polarization, contributing to the improvement of the dielectric loss and relaxation phenomena. Simultaneously, a total electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency of 27.85 dB at the entire X-band was reported for SiTiOC ceramic nanocomposites. A maximum SET of 38.59 dB was examined at around 12 GHz, suggesting that over 99.99% of the electromagnetic waves were shielded. The SiTiOC ceramic nanocomposites exhibited outstanding prospects in thermal stability electromagnetic interference shielding application in a severe environment.

Deciphering the role of rGO in tuning dielectric properties of Er2O3/ZnO/rGO nanocomposites synthesized via facile approach

The present research investigated the effect of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) integration with as-synthesized Er2O3/ZnO nanocomposites on dielectric properties. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Complex impedance spectroscopy was utilized to characterize dielectric relaxation phenomena in Er2O3/ZnO and Er2O3/ZnO/rGO nanocomposites. All the samples exhibit single relaxation phenomena which are ascribed to grain boundaries. The addition of rGO to Er2O3/ZnO nanocomposite results in the enhancement of dielectric response due to increased local field intensity caused by the formation of conducting-insulating interfaces. Furthermore, the AC conductivity of the Er2O3/ZnO/rGO is increased at higher frequencies due to the presence of free charge carriers in rGO. At higher frequencies, Er2O3/ZnO/rGO nanocomposite with increased concentration of ZnO exhibits a more stable dielectric constant with extremely low dielectric loss. Hence, the inclusion of rGO in Er2O3/ZnO nanocomposites makes it a novel prospective candidate in the field of energy storage devices.

Li2SO4 doped Li2O + B2O3 glasses: Hopping mechanism, relaxation phenomena and conductivity behavior

This oxide glass system work reports a detailed of the hopping mechanism, electrical conductivity, and dielectric relaxation phenomena in Li2O + B2O3-based glass for various Li2SO4 mol%. The conductivity, impedance, and dielectric modulus were analyzed in a temperature range from 363 K to 563 K and in a frequency range from 100 Hz to 5 MHz. The conductivity of the glass sample was verified using Cole-Davidson, Jonscher’s power law, and Cole-Cole models and is found to be consistent with each other. Conductivity at the grain and grain boundary was also determined by fitting the impedance data using constant phase elements (CPE) in an equivalent circuit model. The equivalent circuit was used to interpret the impedance semicircles obtained from the ac measurements. Interpretation of the relaxation mechanism in the glass matrix is described by employing Kohlrausch-William-Watts (KWW) model and the modified KWW model, which discloses that the non-Debye type relaxation mechanism is followed by the charge carriers. Impedance spectroscopy has been discussed to distinguish between the contribution of grain boundaries and grains in the relaxation mechanism. The doping Li2SO4 effect can be explained by observing activation energy in the investigated samples. The power law exponent ‘S’ for glass matrix with temperature depicts CBH and NSPT hopping mechanism in AC conductivity. All the above results reveal the glass’s semiconducting nature and depend on the lithium sulphate content in the glass matrix.