Dielectric and phase transition of BaTi 0.6Zr 0.4O 3 ceramics prepared by a soft chemical route

Abstract

BaTi0.6Zr0.4O3 (BTZ) ceramic was synthesized by a soft chemical route. X-ray diffraction at room temperature shows that the sample has cubic perovskite structure with space group Pm-3m. Temperature dependent dielectric study of the sample has been investigated in the frequency range from 50 Hz to 1 MHz. The density of the sample was determined using Archimedes' principle and found to be similar to 97% of the X-ray density. The average grain size in the pallet was found to be similar to 1 mu m. The dielectric constant peaks at temperature T-m which is dependent on the frequency. The dielectric relaxation rate follows the Vogel-Fulcher relation with activation energy = 0.0185 eV, and freezing temperature = 186 K. All these measurements confirm that BTZ is a relaxor ferroelectric.