Structural and electrical properties of Na1/2La1/2TiO3 ceramics

Na1/2La1/2TiO3 (NLT) ceramic was prepared by a high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. A preliminary structural analysis (XRD) suggested the formation of a single-phase orthorhombic structure. SEM micrograph of the material showed uniform grain distribution on the surface of the sample. The dielectric permittivity and the loss tangent of the sample were measured in a frequency range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz and a temperature range 28 degrees C to 525 degrees C. Electrical properties of the material were studied using an ac impedance spectroscopic technique. Detailed analysis of the impedance spectrum suggested that the electrical properties of the material are strongly temperature dependant. The Nyquist plots clearly showed the presence of both bulk and grain boundary effect in the compound. The activation energy was estimated to be 1.1 eV from the temperature variation of dc conductivity. The a.c. conductivity spectrum suggests a typical signature of ion conducting system.