Structural, dielectric and AC-conductivity studies of Gd doped lead-free Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 ceramics

Lead-free (Bi1-xGdx)(0.5)Na0.5TiO3 (BGNT; x = 0.00 to 0.06) ceramics synthesized by a solid state reaction method. The effect of Gd on the structural, microstructural and dielectric properties of BNT ceramics was reported. X-ray diffraction pattern shows the pure perovskite rhombohedral phase without any secondary phase. The microstructural analysis revealed that the reduction in the grain size observed with increasing the Gd concentration. The x = 0.06 sample exhibited the improved dielectric properties such as higher dielectric constant (E-r = 809) and lower dielectric loss (tan = 0.201), measured at 1MHz. The frequency dependent AC-conductivity (sigma(ac)) of BGNT ceramics was analyzed using Jonscher's power law.