Dielectric and Electrochemical Properties of BaO-Doped NiO: A Study on Optimized Composition for Enhanced Performance

This study investigates the impact of barium oxide (BaO) doping on the structural, morphological, and functional properties of nickel oxide (NiO), a material widely used in energy storage applications. NiO, known for its thermal stability and environmental safety, faces limitations such as moderate dielectric constant, low electrical conductivity, and structural defects. To address these challenges, BaO was incorporated into NiO using the co-precipitation method, resulting in a mixed morphology of spherical nanoparticles and nanorods. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed enhanced crystallinity, reduced defect density, and lattice distortions due to BaO doping. Dielectric studies revealed a significant improvement, with BaO-doped NiO exhibiting a dielectric constant of 232 compared to 28 for pure NiO at 10 6 Hz, attributed to increased interfacial polarization and improved charge carrier mobility. Electrochemical analyses further demonstrated enhanced conductivity and reduced charge transfer resistance for the doped samples. The findings highlight the potential of BaO-doped NiO as a superior material for energy storage, offering insights into doping strategies to optimize functional performance for next-generation applications.