Synthesis, electrical and thermal properties of Bi4V2-xZrxO11 (x=0.0 and 0.06) ceramics

Abstract

Polycrystalline ceramic samples of pure and Zr⁺⁴ doped Bi₄V_2-xZr_xO₁₁ (x=0.0 and 0.06) have been synthesized by standard solid state reaction method using high purity oxides. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss and hence ac conductivity as a function of frequency and temperature have been measured. The dielectric studies indicate that the material is highly lossy and hence its ac conductivity increases with the increase of temperature. The dc conductivity of material has been measured as a function of temperature from room temperature to 653 K and its activation energy was calculated using the relation σ = σ_o exp (-Ea/kT). The Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) has been used to investigate the effect of substitution on the phase transition of the compounds.