Effect of cadmium doping on electrical properties of lead nickel niobate–lead zirconate titanate [Pb1.0(Ni0.167Nb0.333Zr0.155Ti0.345)O3] ceramics

Lead nickel niobate–lead zirconate titanate (PNNZT) and cadmium doped (CdPNNZT) with general composition Pb1.0(Ni0.167Nb0.333Zr0.155Ti0.345)O3 (PNNZT), Pb0.98Cd0.02(Ni0.167Nb0.333Zr0.155Ti0.345)O3 (CdPNNZT) respectively were prepared by conventional solid state reaction. Microstructural and compositional analyses have been carried out by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. With cadmium doping there is an increase in both the perovskite phase and in grain size. The effect of cadmium doping on the structural and dielectric properties has been investigated. An increase in the dielectric constant was observed with cadmium doping in PNNZT. Complex impedance analysis suggests poly-dispersive non-Debye type relaxation to occur in the material. The frequency dependence of AC conductivity obeys the universal double power law. The value of activation energy depends on increase in frequency as well as on cadmium doping.