Structural, Microstructural, and Dielectric Properties of Nickel-Doped PbTiO3 Ceramics Synthesized by the Hydrothermal Process

• Published in: Journal of electronic materials 2024, Vol.53 (1), p.141-156
• Main Authors: Sakout, Y., El Ghadraoui, O., Lahrar, E. H., Zouhairi, M., Tijani, N., Harrach, A., Lamcharfi, T., Haddad, M., El Yamni, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cations; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cubic lattice; Dielectric loss; Dielectric properties; Electronics and Microelectronics; Grain size; Heat treatment; Instrumentation; Lattice vibration; Lead titanates; Low temperature; Materials Science; Nickel; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Research Article; Perovskite structure; Perovskites; Raman spectroscopy; Room temperature; Solid State Physics; Spectrum analysis; Transition temperature
• ISSN: 0361-5235; 1543-186X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11664-023-10741-y

In this work, an experimental study was conducted on the structural and dielectric properties for nickel-doped Pb 1− x Ni x TiO 3 (PNT) perovskite-based ceramics with varying nickel concentrations ( x (wt) = 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 17%, and 20%). The ceramics were prepared using the hydrothermal process at low temperature, which was compared to the solid-state method. The precursors, in stoichiometric amounts, were placed in an alkaline environment using an autoclave and were heat-treated at 180°C for 24 h. The obtained powders underwent characterization after filtration, washing, and drying. X-ray diffraction analysis with Rietveld refinement highlighted that the powders crystallize in a tetragonal perovskite structure with P4mm space group and transform into a pseudo-cubic structure upon the introduction of nickel cations into the lattice. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the material structures at the micro level, revealing a homogeneous grain shape with a decrease in average grain size as the nickel concentration in the compound increased. Raman spectroscopy was employed to study the active phonon modes of the materials. The dielectric properties of the different Pb 1− x Ni x TiO 3 compositions were analyzed using dielectric spectroscopy in a temperature range from room temperature to 500°C, and at frequencies ranging from 1 kHz to 1.6 MHz. The results confirm the insertion of nickel cations into the PbTiO 3 lattice and highlight the resulting enhanced dielectric constant (ε r ), transition temperature ( T C ), and dielectric loss (tan δ).