Studies on structural, optical and dielectric properties of Ba0.96Nd0.0267Ti0.94Sn0.06O3 perovskite ceramic

The Ba0.96Nd0.0267Ti0.94Sn0.06O3 (BNTSO) perovskite ceramics was successfully synthesized via a mixed oxide solid-state route. Our investigation has examined how Nd ion substitution affects the structural, surface morphology, optical and dielectric properties of this compound. Structural analysis by X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of a single-phase cubic structure (space group Pm-3m) with an average crystallite size of 30 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyse the samples’ surface morphology and grain size distribution. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of metal–oxygen (Ti-O) bonds and TiO6 stretching vibration associated with the barium. Dielectric analysis indicated that both dielectric constants and tangent losses were higher at lower frequencies and decreased as the frequency increased. Dielectric measurements demonstrate a high permittivity at low frequencies due to interfacial polarization and a thermally activated relaxation phenomenon. Impedance spectroscopy, modeled using equivalent circuit analysis, reveals that grain boundaries predominantly govern the conduction process. These findings underline the potential of (BNTSO) for advanced electronic applications, including high-frequency devices and gas sensors. Electrical conductivity studies highlight conduction mechanisms governed by the Small Polaron hopping (SPH) and the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) models across different temperature ranges. The thermal evolution of conduction exhibits semiconductor behavior.