Dielectric relaxation in Sr modified PST ceramics

Nanocrystalline powders of strontium modified PbSn0.15Ti0.85O3 (PST) having the formula Pb0.94Sr0.06Sn0.15 have been synthesized by a precursor solution method. The electrical behavior of Pb0.94Sr0.06Sn0.15Ti0.85O3 sintered pellets has been studied by complex impedance spectroscopy analysis. The plot of the real and imaginary parts of the impedance shows that the semicircle exhibits a depression degree with a distribution of relaxation time. The modulus curve indicates the possibility of non-exponential type conductivity. The values of the activation energy calculated from both plots of Z” and M”, are 1.06 and 1.09 eV, which reveals that the species responsible for conduction are same. It also confirms that oxygen vacancies play an important role in conduction. The non-overlapping of the peaks in the plot of M”/M”max and Z”/Z”max as a function of logarithmic frequency measured at 350 °C indicates short-range conduction. The compounds exhibit a negative temperature coefficient of resistance with an α value of -5×10-2 °C at 375 °C. The frequency (ω) dependence of conductivity satisfies the ωn power law. The variation of n with temperature suggests that ac conduction is due to small polaron tunneling