Structural and impedance spectroscopy study of Samarium modified Barium Zirconium Titanate ceramic prepared by mechanochemical route

• Submicron sized Sm-modified BZT ceramic was prepared.
• Reitveld Refinement and TEM analysis was done.
• Impedance spectroscopy study shows a temperature dependent dielectric relaxation in all compositions.
• NTCR behavior is observed in all compositions.

Samarium modified Barium Zirconium Titanate (BZT) ceramics with general formula [Ba1−xSm2x/3](Zr0.05Ti0.95O3) [x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04] have been prepared by high energy ball milling. The Rietveld refinement of BaZr0.05Ti0.95O3 (BZT) shows a single phase tetragonal symmetry with space group P4mmm and TEM micrograph shows that the crystalline size is in the submicron range. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirm that no phase change occurs with the addition of Samarium in BZT upto x ≤ 0.03 and a small pyrochlore phase exists at x = 0.04. The complex impedance (Nyquist) plots display a single semicircle highlighting the influence of grain resistance on the electrical behavior. Negative temperature coefficient of resistance behavior is observed in all compositions. The activation energy calculated from Z″ and DC conductivity confirms that the oxygen vacancies play an important role in the conduction mechanism.