Polyethylene glycol ratio effect on magnesium oxide prepared by chemical precipitation: Impact on structure, morphology, and electrical properties

In this work, we investigate the properties of magnesium oxide powders synthesized via simple chemical precipitation (SPC). The effect of polyethylene glycol PEG (300) ratio in electrical behavior of MgO is the main part of this study. Crystalline structure and particle size were investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD). Crystallite size of obtained MgO powders was calculated using Scherer׳s formula. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) were used to investigate PEG (300) effect. In fact the mass loss decreases when the PEG (300) ratio increases. Two type of OH group in the MgO surface sites: Type A and Type B with different coordinations, one for the first type and more (2, 3, 4) for the second, were highlighted. The number of OH group decreases when the ratio of MgO/PEG (300) increases. Ratio effect, on dielectric phenomena and electrical conductivity properties of MgO powders, was studied to improve the conductivity. XRD revealed that obtained MgO powders are crystalline and of high purity. Complex impedance spectroscopy was used to examine electrical properties. The activation energies of the MgO powders in the temperature range of study were correlated with PEG (300) ratio.