Microstructure and electric response of Li,Sn co-doped NiO ceramics

Abstract

Phase composition, microstructure and electric response of Li0.05SnxNi0.95 - xO (x = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1) ceramics were systematically investigated. Colossal dielectric permittivity (>5000) is observed in the frequency range of 102-105 Hz at room temperature which becomes highly frequency-independent with increasing temperature. Secondary Sn-rich phase is detected in the grain boundary regions and it has a remarkable influence on the dielectric properties. Impedance spectroscopy analysis demonstrates that the microstructure is electrically heterogeneous, consisting of semiconducting grain and insulating grain boundary. Defect dipoles or polyvalent cations induced at high temperature may activate an electron hopping process under electric field, resulting in the enhancements of grain conductivity and polarization effect. This behaviour should be considered as the origin of the observed dielectric response.