Study of structural, dielectric and electrical conduction behaviour of Gd substituted CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

Effect of Gd on microstructural, dielectric and electrical properties has been studied over wide temperature (300-500 K) and frequency range (100 Hz-1 MHz). Gd substitution in CCTO system results in decrease in the grain size and increase of Schottky potential barrier which causes lower value of dielectric constant. The dielectric constant remains nearly constant in temperature range 300-350 K. Doped samples show lower dielectric loss in middle frequency range (similar to 10 kHz-1 MHz) at room temperature. The AC conductivity (sigma(ac)) obeys a power law, sigma(ac) = Af(n), where n is temperature dependent frequency exponent. The AC conductivity behaviour can be divided into three regions depending on conduction processes and the relevant charge transport mechanisms have been discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.