Dielectric, ferroelectric and thermal studies of gel grown yttrium tartrate (YT) crystals

Yttrium tartrate (YT) single crystals have been grown by gel encapsulation technique. The crystallinity of the grown crystals was confirmed by XRD technique. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss and ac conductivity was measured as a function of frequency in the range 1 kHz to 1 MHz and temperature range of 30 degrees C to 250 degrees C. Dielectric studies shows two transition peaks at temperature of 80 degrees C and 210 degrees C. These transition peaks are further supported by thermal studies. The nature of transitions can be explained by relation (1/epsilon' - 1/epsilon'(max)) = A (T-Tc)(gamma). and is reported to be diffused transitions. The variation of ac conductivity with temperature and frequency has been reported and is represented by the relation sigma(omega) = A omega(s). The saturation polarization (P-s), remanent polarization (P-r) and coercive field (E-c) of the polarization-electric field hysteresis are reported for this material. These dielectric results are then correlated with thermal studies. The material (YT) is proposed to be ferroelectric.