Dielectric relaxation of complex perovskite Sm(Ni1/2Zr1/2)O3

Complex perovskite oxide samarium nickel zirconate, Sm(Ni1/2Zr1/2)O3 (SNZ), is synthesized by a solid-state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction of the sample at room temperature shows a monoclinic phase. Impedance spectroscopy is used to study the electrical behaviour of this material in the frequency range 400 Hz–1 MHz and in the temperature range 303–633 K. The frequency dependence of loss peaks is found to obey an Arrhenius law with the activation energy of 0.8 eV. Frequency-dependent conductivity spectra follow a power law. Relaxation mechanism of the sample in the framework of electric modulus formalism is modelled by the Cole–Cole equation. The scaling behaviour of the imaginary part of electric modulus suggests that relaxation describes the same mechanism at various temperatures. Complex impedance plane plot shows two semicircular arcs, indicating the grain and grain-boundary contributions of dielectric relaxation in this material.