Dielectric properties and study of AC electrical conduction mechanisms by non-overlapping small polaron tunneling model in Bis(4-acetylanilinium) tetrachlorocuprate(II) compound

•The X-ray powder diffraction confirms the purity of the compound.•The TAG and DTA reveal phase transitions at 363 K and the decomposition of the sample at 428 K and 454 K, respectively.•The dielectric properties have shown the existence of an anomaly in the temperature range of 358–373 K.•The impedance spectra are analyzed in terms of equivalent circuits involving resistors, constant phase elements (CPE) and capacitors.•The frequency dependence of alternative current (AC) conductivity is interpreted in terms of Jonscher's law.•The AC electrical conduction in [C8H10NO]2CuCl4 is analyzed by the non-overlapping small polaron tunneling model.

In the present work, the synthesis and characterization of the Bis(4-acetylanilinium) tetrachlorocuprate(II) compound are presented. The structure of this compound is analyzed by X-ray diffraction which confirms the formation of single phase and is in good agreement the literature. Indeed, the Thermo gravimetric Analysis (TGA) shows that the decomposition of the compound is observed in the range of 420–520 K. However, the differential thermal analysis (DTA) indicates the presence of a phase transition at T=363 k. Furthermore, the dielectric properties and AC conductivity were studied over a temperature range (338–413 K) and frequency range (200 Hz–5 MHz) using complex impedance spectroscopy. Dielectric measurements confirmed such thermal analyses by exhibiting the presence of an anomaly in the temperature range of 358–373 K. The complex impedance plots are analyzed by an electrical equivalent circuit consisting of resistance, constant phase element (CPE) and capacitance. The activation energy values of two distinct regions are obtained from log σT vs 1000/T plot and are found to be E=1.27 eV (T<363 K) and E=1.09 eV (363 K

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideComplex impedance spectra of [C8H10NO]2CuCl4 at different temperatures.