Dielectric behaviour of microwave sintered rare-earth doped BaTiO3 ceramics

Ferroelectric Ba1−xRexTiO3 (Re = Ce, Nd and Pr) with x = 0.003 were prepared through microwave sintering route. The dielectric studies were made on these samples as a function of frequency and temperature and high values of dielectric constant has been obtained in most of the samples. Large values of room temperature dielectric constant obtained in the present study is attributed to microwave sintering. Impedance measurements were also carried out from room temperature to 600 °C and in a wide frequency range. The complex impedance plots (imaginary versus real values of Z, M and Y) have brought out interesting features of the samples. These plots enable the separation of grain, grain boundary and electrode effects.