Synthesis, Structural, Electrical, and Thermal Studies of ( and ) Ferroelectric Ceramics
The polycrystalline ceramic samples of lead barium niobate with general formula ( and 0.4) were prepared by conventional solid state reaction method. The room temperature X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that both of the samples have orthorhombic crystal structure with space group Cm2m. The dielectric constant and dissipation factor were measured as a function of frequency (100 Hz-2 MHz) and temperature (RT-660K). The DC electrical conductivity of both the samples was measured from RT to 660 K. The activation energies calculated from log σ versus 1000/T curves in ferroelectric phase of the compounds are 1.09 eV for pure () sample and 1.36 eV for Ba-substituted () sample. The values of activation energies show that the substitution of Ba2+ ion on Pb2+ ion site increases the resistivity of pure PbNb2O6 () ceramic. The modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) has been used to investigate the phase transition temperature of both the compounds and also to see the effect of Ba2+ ion substitution on the phase transition temperature, specific heat, and other thermal parameters of the compound.