Structural, Dielectric and Electrical Studies of Ba4CaRTi3Nb7O30 (R = Eu, Dy) Ferroelectric System

Abstract

The polycrystalline samples of Ba4CaRTi3Nb7O30 (R = Eu, Dy), members of tungsten-bronze family, were prepared by high-temperature solid state reaction method and studied for their dielectric and electrical properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals the formation of single-phase compounds having orthorhombic crystal structure at room temperature. Microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows that the compounds have well defined grains, which are distributed uniformly throughout the sample. Detailed dielectric properties of the compounds as a function of frequency and temperature show that the compounds undergo non-relaxor kind of ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition of diffuse nature. Ferroelectric, piezoelectric and pyroelectric studies of the compounds have been discussed in this paper. The temperature dependence of dc conductivity of the compounds have been investigated. The conductivity study over a wide temperature range suggests that the compounds have negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behaviour.