AC Conductivity and Impedance Properties of 0.65Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.35PbTiO₃ Ceramics

Abstract

The electrical properties of 0.65Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.35(PbTiO₃) ceramics over a wide range of frequencies (10²–10⁶ Hz) and temperatures (30–225^∘C) were studied using impedance spectroscopy technique. The impedance and electric permittivity were strongly temperature and frequency dependent. The activation energy, calculated from the temperature dependence of AC conductivity of the ceramics was found to be ∼0.5 eV. The relaxation process in the ceramics was found to be of non-Debye type. The nature of Cole-Cole diagram reveals the contribution of grain (bulk) and grain boundary permittivity in the ceramics.

1. Introduction

In the recent years lead perovskite relaxor systems such as Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (PZN) and Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (PMN) have attracted considerable attention due to their exceptionally large dielectric constants and piezoelectric properties [1, 2]. These are characterized by site and charge disorder [3]. They show no symmetry breaking transition on cooling but exhibit strong and frequency dependent peaks in dielectric constants [4, 5]. The disorderness of PMN is reduced by adding PbTiO₃ (PT) to PMN [6]. For x>0.05, at low temperature, the (1−x)Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-xPbTiO₃ (PMN-xPT) is ferroelectric and rhombohedral up to a specific value of x [6]. At higher PT concentration, it undergoes a morphotropic phase transition (at 0.30<x<0.40) [7–9] and becomes tetragonal. At higher temperature, the system becomes paraelectric and cubic for all the value of x. High value of piezoelectric response has been achieved near this transition. For sufficiently high concentrations, the PMN-PT system exhibits ferroelectric tetragonal, rhombohedral, monoclinic, and orthorhombic at low and paraelectric cubic phases at high temperatures [1, 9]. The phase transition between the rhombohedral and tetragonal ferroelectric phases observed by many authors [3, 7, 8, 10]. The PMN-xPT system around the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) is of special significance for technological applications [11] since the electromechanical response [12] is found to be maximum. Among other MPB systems like Pb(Zr_xTi_1-x)O₃ (PZT) and (1−x)Pb(Zr_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-PbTiO₃ (PZN-xPT), the PMN-xPT is more attractive because it can easily be prepared both in ceramics as well as single crystals. Size driven relaxation and polar states of morphotropic PMN-35PT have been studied by Carreaud et al. using ball mill method [13]. They showed that the dielectric relaxation observed in the range of size 30 nm to ≈200 nm. Further, the dielectric relaxation vanished below the size of ≈30 nm. The processing of (1−x)PMN-xPT (x=0.2, 0.3, 0.35, and 0.4) ceramics from powders synthesized by mechanochemical activation of precursors has been studied by Algueró et al. [14]. They studied these ceramics with a range of grain sizes between 0.2 and 5 𝜇m by varying the PbO partial pressure and temperature. Recently, size effects in MPB of PMN-35PT have also been studied by Algueró et al. [15]. They showed that the decrease of grain size (micron range to approached nanoscale) slows down the transition from the relaxor to the ferroelectric state. All the data reported in the literature are obtained using the fixed frequency measurements. There is enormous literature with different motivations that have been reported for PMN-PT ceramics or single crystals; it is not purposed to review this literature here. However, there are rare reports on the AC impedance spectroscopy properties of this ferroelectric ceramics with wide frequency range. James et al. [16, 17] reported investigations on relaxor PMN-PT ceramics (x=0.10) prepared by columbite method. Kobor et al. [18] studied the oxygen vacancies effect on ionic conductivity and relaxation phenomenon in undoped and Mn doped PZN-0.45PT single crystals using impedance spectroscopic in the high temperature region. To the best of our knowledge, no one is reported on the temperature dependence of AC conductivity and impedance properties for PMN-35PT ceramics. In view of what mentioned above, we have reported the impedance spectroscopy studies of 0.65Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.35PbTiO₃ (PMN-35PT) ceramics to better understand the conduction mechanism of this important ferroelectric composition.

2. Experimental

The complete balanced chemical equation of PMN-35PT is: 0.65Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ + 0.35PbTiO₃=0.65PMN-0.35PT. The ingredients were taken in the desired stoichiometry. The PMN-35PT ceramics studied in the present work was prepared by using columbite method and fine powders obtained from an aqueous solution of oxalic acid (OA) (0.18 mol⁻¹). Then the MgNb₂O₆ (MgO +Nb₂O₅→MgNb₂O₆) (MN) and the PbTiO₃ (PbO + TiO₂) (PT) powders were added to this OA solution. The preparation of MN and PT is given in detail elsewhere [19]. The PT–MN–OA was stirred by an ultrasound for 30 minutes. A solution of Pb(NO₃)₂ slowly dropped into the PT–MN–OA, resulting in a white precipitate of lead oxalate on the particles of PT and MN. Then the collected mixture was filtered, dried, and ground. After that, an amount of 0.2 g was calcined between 700 and 950^∘C using an alumina boats. The calcined powder was then cold pressed in to rectangle-sized pellets using a hydraulic pressure. Then the pellets were sintered at 1250^∘C for 4 hours. The density of the final ceramics was found to be 7.4 gm/cm³.

In order to study the dielectric and electrical properties of the ceramics, both the flat surfaces of the pellets were polished, and then electroded with air-drying conducting silver paint. After electroding, the pellets were dried at 150^∘C for 4 hours to remove moisture, if any, and then cooled to room temperature before taking electrical measurements. Dielectric and impedance measurements were carried out using a computer controlled LCR Meter (Agilent; Model 4284A) in a wide frequency (10²–10⁶ Hz) and temperature (28–225^∘C) range.

The structure of the ceramics was investigated by an X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique at room temperature using Bragg-Brentano geometry in continuous mode with a scanning rate of 1^∘/minute and step size of 0.02^∘. The Rigaku Ultima IV diffractometer (operated at 40 kV and 25 mA) with CuK_𝛼 radiation (𝜆=1.5405 Å) was used. For Rietveld analysis [20], XRD data were input into the GSAS [21] structure refinement code under the EXPGUI [22] interface. Peak profiles were fitted using the Thompson et al. [23] pseudo-Voigt function while a sixth-order polynomial was used to fit the background. The microstructure of the ceramics was observed at room temperature by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) (Model Zeiss DSM960).

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Structural and Microstructural Properties

Rietveld refinements were performed by using the following five different plausible structural models: (i) Rhombohedral phase (R) (R3m space group), (ii) Tetragonal phase (T) (P4mm space group), (iii) Monoclinic phase (M) (Pm space group), (iv) Monoclinic and Tetragonal phase coexistence (M+T), and (v) Tetragonal and Rhombohedral phase coexistence (T+R). These models were used for Rietveld refinements by considering the existence of the monoclinic phase at PMN-PT compositions around the MPB [24]. The main criteria for judging the quality of the fitting are the final fit of the calculated pattern compared with the observed data. However, the R-factors weighted profile 𝑅_wp, the statistically expected 𝑅_exp, and the goodness-of-fit indices 𝜒²=𝑅_wp/𝑅_exp are usually used to attest the quality of a fit [25]. A very good fit was obtained by using the M+T phase coexistence model, leading to the smallest 𝜒² (=2.89) value. This result indirectly attests the good stoichiometry control of the studied ceramics at x=0.35 mol% of PbTiO₃.

Figure 1 shows the observed, calculated, and difference XRD profiles obtained after the Rietveld refinements of the PMN-35PT ceramics, considering the M+T phase coexistence model. Neither pyrochlore phase nor residual phases were observed in this figure. Table 1 summarizes the structural parameters obtained from the Rietveld refinement (shown in Figure 1). A small difference between the observed and calculated profiles attests the good fitting. In addition, a small value obtained for the goodness-of-fit (𝜒²=2.89) indicates a good refinement. Results obtained in Table 1 confirm that the dominant phase of PMN-35PT presents a tetragonal structure of 67 mol% compared with monoclinic structure of 33 mol%. In other words, the minority monoclinic phase coexists with the tetragonal phase in the PMN-35PT ceramics. These results are in good agreement with the reported one for the same PMN-35PT composition [24]. Figure 1 (inset) shows the scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the PMN-35PT ceramics using fractured samples. In this micrograph no secondary phases are observed between grains. The grains are densely distributed over the surface of the sample without porosity. The average grain size was estimated to be 7.8 𝜇m.

Table 1 

Refined structural parameters of PMN-35PT ceramics using the coexistence model between tetragonal phase (space group P4mm) and monoclinic phase (space group Pm).

Figure 1 

Observed (dots), calculated (continuous line), and difference (bottom line) XRD profiles of PMN-35PT ceramics. Rietveld refinement was performed considering the monoclinic (Pm) and tetragonal (P4mm) phase coexistence model. SEM micrograph of the same ceramics is shown in inset.

3.2. AC Conductivity Studies

Figure 2 shows the AC conductivity (𝜎_ac) with 10³/T at 1 and 10 kHz for PMN-35PT ceramics. A maximum is observed in ac conductivity at around 454 K for both frequencies, which is closely related to the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition (𝑇_𝑐). This is the normal behavior of a ferroelectric material. This behavior can be attributed to the relaxation process associated with the domain reorientation, domain wall motion, and the dipolar behavior [3]. There are distinct region of conduction mechanisms in different temperature ranges: (i) n and/or p-type hopping charge (corresponding to low temperatures), (ii) small polarons and oxygen vacancy conduction (at intermediate temperature regions), and (iii) intrinsic ionic conduction (at high temperature region) [26]. The nature of variation of 𝜎_ac over a wide temperature range supports the thermally activated transport properties of the ceramics obeying Arrhenius equation 𝜎=𝜎₀exp(−𝐸_𝑎/𝑘𝑇) (where 𝜎₀ = pre-exponential factor, 𝑘 = Boltzmann’s constant). The value of activation energy (𝐸_𝑎) of the ceramics at 1 and 10 kHz was found to be 0.46 and 0.21 eV (275–325^∘C, i.e., in the 𝑇≥𝑇_𝑐) and 0.20 and 0.19 eV (100–150^∘C, i.e., in the 𝑇≤𝑇_𝑐), which is quite consistent with that of other complex perovskites [27, 28]. The value obtained below the transition temperature (𝑇≥𝑇_𝑐) is in good agreement with those of 67PMN-33PT single crystals [29]. The activation energy was found to decrease on increasing frequency. This behavior suggests that the conduction mechanism may be due to the hopping of charge carriers (i.e., n and/or p-type) from one site to the other. Therefore, very small amount of energy is required to activate the charge carriers/electrons for electrical conduction. It has been shown by Ang et al. [30] and Moretti and Michel-Calendini [31] that the value of activation energy depends on ionization level of the oxygen vacancy. Usually, activation energy less than 1.0 eV is connected to singly ionized vacancies [30] and/or electronic mobility in space charge regions [32]. Thus, the conduction process within this temperature range may be due to the hopping of charge carriers and/or singly ionized oxygen vacancies of the ceramics.

Figure 2 

Variation of AC conductivity with 103/T at 1 and 10 kHz of PMN-35PT. Measurement performed during cooling.

3.3. Impedance Studies

The complex impedance spectroscopic (CIS) technique [33] is used to analyze the electrical response of polycrystalline sample in a wide range of frequencies. Electrical ac data may be represented in any of the four basic formalisms [34] which are interrelated to each other: Compleximpedance∶𝑍^∗=𝑍^′−𝑗𝑍^′′,Complexadmittance∶𝑌^∗=(𝑍^∗)⁻¹,Complexpermittivity∶𝜀^∗=[𝑗𝜔𝐶₀𝑍^∗]⁻¹=𝜀^′−𝑗𝜀^′′,Complexelectricmodulus∶𝑀^∗=𝑗𝜔𝐶₀𝑍^∗=𝑀^′+𝑗𝑀^′′, (1) where (𝑍^′, 𝑀^′, 𝜀^′) and (𝑍^′′, 𝑀^′′, 𝜀^′′) are the real and imaginary components of impedance, modulus, and permittivity, respectively, 𝑗=√−1, 𝜔(=2𝜋𝑓) is the angular frequency and 𝐶₀=𝜀₀𝐴ℓ⁻¹ in which 𝐶₀ is the vacuum capacitance of the cell without the sample, 𝜀₀ the permittivity of free space, 8.854×10⁻¹⁴ F⋅cm⁻¹, ℓ and 𝐴 are the thickness and area of the sample. In the present paper we are basically focus on the complex impedance and complex permittivity part.

Figure 3 shows the behavior of real part of impedance (𝑍^′) as a function of frequency at different temperatures (i.e., 75–175^∘C) of PMN-35PT. It is observed that the magnitude of 𝑍^′ (bulk resistance) decreases on increasing temperature in the low frequency ranges (up to a certain frequency), and thereafter appears to merge in the high-frequency region. This may possibly be due to the release of space charge polarization with rise in temperatures and frequencies [35]. This behavior shows that the conduction mechanism increases with increasing temperature and frequency (i.e., negative temperature coefficient of behavior like that of a semiconductor). The decreasing behavior of resistance with temperature at 100 Hz is (inset of Figure 3).

Figure 3 

Variation of 𝑍′ with frequency at different temperatures of PMN-35PT. Variation of resistance with temperature (inset).

Figure 4 shows the imaginary permittivity (𝜀^′′) as a function of frequency at different temperatures. The nature of variation of 𝜀^′′ shows the existence of peak at a particular frequency (𝑓_max) at different temperatures. The peak frequency shifts towards the higher side on increasing temperature, and above 150^∘C, the peak disappears from the frequency range of investigation. The value of 𝜀^′′ decreases with rise in frequency up to a certain frequency and thereafter increases to a maximum at a higher frequency. This type of nature of variation is very much comparable with the high dielectric constant materials [16, 17]. Though structural, dielectric, and ferroelectric properties of PMN-35PT studied [19], this type of dispersion has not been reported earlier.

Figure 4 

Variation of imaginary 𝜀′′ of PMN-35PT with frequency at different temperatures.

In order to carry out the thorough studies of permittivity and their temperature dependence, it is necessary to separate the contribution of grain, grain boundary, and material electrode interface effect. For this, we have taken the real and imaginary parts of permittivity as 𝜀^′=−𝑍^′′/𝜔𝐶₀(𝑍^′2+𝑍^′′2) and 𝜀^′′=𝑍^′/𝜔𝐶₀(𝑍^′2+𝑍^′′2). Figure 5 shows the complex permittivity (𝜀^∗) spectrum (Cole-Cole plot) for two distinct temperatures (100^∘C and 125^∘C). From this figure it is clear that a polydispersive nature of dielectric phenomena in PMN-35PT with the possibility of distributed relaxation time, as indicated by the semicircular arc at different temperatures with their center located below the real x-axis. This indicates that the relaxation process is of non-Debye type. This nature of complex dielectric spectrum is well described by an empirical relation (developed by Cole-Cole), [36] and is expressed by 𝜀^∗=𝜀^′−𝑖𝜀^′′=𝜀_∞+Δ𝜀1+(𝑖𝜔𝜏)^1−𝛼, (2) where Δ𝜀=𝜀_𝑠−𝜀_∞ is the dielectric relaxation strength (𝜀_𝑠 and 𝜀_∞ are the static and infinite frequency dielectric constants), 𝜏 is relaxation time, and 𝛼 is a parameter describing the distribution of relaxation time. The value of 𝛼=0 describes monodispersive relaxation of Debye type, while 0≤𝛼≤1 indicates a nonuniform distribution of relaxation time with asymmetric relaxation peak in the complex impedance spectrum. At low frequency region (up to 4 kHz and 10 kHz at 100^∘C and 125^∘C, resp.), the appearance of a spike is observed. This may be attributed to the diffusion phenomena of Warburg type [37], and arising due to charge carrier transport at these temperatures. This may also be associated either with a surface layer ceramics or with electrode polarization process [38]. In the intermediate frequency range, a complete semicircle is observed which may be due to the effect grain boundary permittivity [39]. A trend of formation of a semicircular arc is observed, although there is a lack of experimental data (>1 MHz) to complete the semicircle in the high frequency region (above 320 kHz and 400 kHz at 100^∘C and 125^∘C, resp.). This may be assumed due to the contribution of bulk permittivity of the ceramics. The above result indicates intrinsic properties of the materials with loss in polarization processes yielding from the mobility of ions.

Figure 5 

Complex permittivity spectrum (Cole-Cole plot) of PMN-35PT at 100 and 125∘C.

4. Conclusions

The electrical properties of PMN-35PT ceramics were studied using impedance spectroscopic technique. The ceramics has relaxation phenomena, which could be attributed to a non-Debye type. The impedance parameters were found to be strongly frequency and temperature dependent. The conduction mechanism in the ceramics may be due to the hopping of charge carriers and/or singly ionized. Cole-Cole plots show the contribution of grain (bulk) and grain boundary permittivity in the ceramics. Using impedance spectroscopic technique, studies of different PMN-xPT compositions around the morphotropic phase boundary are in progress to understand the dielectric relaxation mechanism as well as the electrical properties.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Brazilian agencies FAPESP (Processes: 2007/00183-7 and 2007/05302-4), CNPq (Research Grant: 301382/2006-9) and CAPES for the financial support. Finally, we would like to thank Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) for providing the reagents used in this work.