Characterization of the Structure and Conduction Behavior of Disodium Zinc Orthogermanate Using the Correlated Barrier Hopping (CBH) Model

This research explores the structural, chemical, morphological, optical, and electrical characteristics of a Na2ZnGeO4 ceramic material synthesized through conventional solid-state methods and sintered at 800 °C. Advanced methods including energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) verified the material’s single-phase nature and monoclinicn Pn space group. Optical studies across a wavelength range of 200–800 nm revealed a direct bandgap of approximately 4 eV and a peak photoluminescence emission near 420 nm. We used Cauchy’s law in conjunction with ellipsometry spectroscopy to determine the optical refractive index (n) as well as the extinction coefficient (k). Moreover, applying Jonscher’s power law to the AC conductivity data revealed that changes in the exponent “S” are consistent with conduction mechanisms proposed by the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model. The material demonstrated its promise for storage of energy applications with a high permittivity value (ε ∼ 108) and minimal dielectric loss. This research tackles the important trial of improving material performance for microelectronics and energy storage, contributing to technological advancements in addition to paving the way for the broader application of ceramic materials.