Effect of sintering conditions on the dielectric properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 and La2/3Cu3Ti4O12 ceramics: A comparative study

The microstructural and dielectric properties of La2/3Cu3Ti4O12 (LCTO) ceramics were found to be less sensitive to the sintering conditions. In contrast, these had imprinting effects on the dielectric characteristics of CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) ceramics. The dielectric constant of CCTO increased drastically with increase in sintering temperature and duration as a consequence of significant change in the microstructural and compositional heterogeneity, while the increase was nominal in the case of LCTO ceramics. The dielectric behavior of both the ceramics was explained based on the Maxwell–Wagner relaxation arising mostly from the interfaces between grains and the grain boundaries.