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Journal ArticleDOI

Electroceramics: Characterization by Impedance Spectroscopy

01 Mar 1990-Advanced Materials (WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH)-Vol. 2, Iss: 3, pp 132-138
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used impedance spectroscopy for unravelling the complexities of such materials, which functions by utilizing the different frequency dependences of the constituent components for their separation, and showed that electrical inhomogeneities in ceramic electrolytes, electrode/electrolyte interfaces, surface layers on glasses, ferroelectricity, positive temperature coefficient of resistance behavior and even ferrimagnetism can all be probed, successfully.
Abstract: Electroceramics are advanced materials whose properties and applications depend on the close control of structure, composition, ceramic texture, dopants and dopant (or defect) distribution. Impedance spectroscopy is a powerful technique for unravelling the complexities of such materials, which functions by utilizing the different frequency dependences of the constituent components for their separation. Thus, electrical inhomogeneities in ceramic electrolytes, electrode/electrolyte interfaces, surface layers on glasses, ferroelectricity, positive temperature coefficient of resistance behavior and even ferrimagnetism can all be probed, successfully, using this technique.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Subramanian et al. as discussed by the authors attributed the giant-dielectric phenomenon to a grain boundary (internal) barrier layer capacitance (IBLC) instead of an intrinsic property associated with the crystal structure.
Abstract: There has been much recent interest in a so-called “giant-dielectric phenomenon” displayed by an unusual cubic perovskite-type material, CaCu3Ti4O12; however, the origin of the high permittivity has been unclear [M. A. Subramanian, L. Dong, N. Duan, B. A. Reisner, and A. W. Sleight, J. Solid State Chem. 151, 323 (2000); C. C. Homes, T. Vogt, S. M. Shapiro, S. Wakimoto, and A. P. Ramirez, Science 293, 673 (2001); A. P. Ramirez, M. A. Subramanian, M. Gardel, G. Blumberg, D. Li, T. Vogt, and S. M. Shapiro, Solid State Commun. 115, 217 (2000)]. Impedance spectroscopy on CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics demonstrates that they are electrically heterogeneous and consist of semiconducting grains with insulating grain boundaries. The giant-dielectric phenomenon is therefore attributed to a grain boundary (internal) barrier layer capacitance (IBLC) instead of an intrinsic property associated with the crystal structure. This barrier layer electrical microstructure with effective permittivity values in excess of 10 000 can be fa...

1,438 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
30 Jul 2015-Nature
TL;DR: Crosslinked polymer nanocomposites that contain boron nitride nanosheets have outstanding high-voltage capacitive energy storage capabilities at record temperatures and have been demonstrated to preserve excellent dielectric and capacitive performance after intensive bending cycles, enabling broader applications of organic materials in high-temperature electronics and energy storage devices.
Abstract: Dielectric materials, which store energy electrostatically, are ubiquitous in advanced electronics and electric power systems. Compared to their ceramic counterparts, polymer dielectrics have higher breakdown strengths and greater reliability, are scalable, lightweight and can be shaped into intricate configurations, and are therefore an ideal choice for many power electronics, power conditioning, and pulsed power applications. However, polymer dielectrics are limited to relatively low working temperatures, and thus fail to meet the rising demand for electricity under the extreme conditions present in applications such as hybrid and electric vehicles, aerospace power electronics, and underground oil and gas exploration. Here we describe crosslinked polymer nanocomposites that contain boron nitride nanosheets, the dielectric properties of which are stable over a broad temperature and frequency range. The nanocomposites have outstanding high-voltage capacitive energy storage capabilities at record temperatures (a Weibull breakdown strength of 403 megavolts per metre and a discharged energy density of 1.8 joules per cubic centimetre at 250 degrees Celsius). Their electrical conduction is several orders of magnitude lower than that of existing polymers and their high operating temperatures are attributed to greatly improved thermal conductivity, owing to the presence of the boron nitride nanosheets, which improve heat dissipation compared to pristine polymers (which are inherently susceptible to thermal runaway). Moreover, the polymer nanocomposites are lightweight, photopatternable and mechanically flexible, and have been demonstrated to preserve excellent dielectric and capacitive performance after intensive bending cycles. These findings enable broader applications of organic materials in high-temperature electronics and energy storage devices.

1,324 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The state of the art of MOF stability in water, a crucial issue to many applications in which MOFs are promising candidates, is discussed here and different mechanisms of water adsorption in this class of materials are presented.
Abstract: This review article presents the fundamental and practical aspects of water adsorption in Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs). The state of the art of MOF stability in water, a crucial issue to many applications in which MOFs are promising candidates, is discussed here. Stability in both gaseous (such as humid gases) and aqueous media is considered. By considering a non-exhaustive yet representative set of MOFs, the different mechanisms of water adsorption in this class of materials are presented: reversible and continuous pore filling, irreversible and discontinuous pore filling through capillary condensation, and irreversibility arising from the flexibility and possible structural modifications of the host material. Water adsorption properties of more than 60 MOF samples are reported. The applications of MOFs as materials for heat-pumps and adsorbent-based chillers and proton conductors are also reviewed. Some directions for future work are suggested as concluding remarks.

1,022 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarize the principles of dielectric energy-storage applications, and recent developments on different types of Dielectrics, namely linear dielectrics (LDE), paraelectric, ferroelectrics, and antiferro electrics, focusing on perovskite lead-free dielectors.

941 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results imply that achieving a high degree of texture both normal to and within the basal plane is important for obtaining very high critical currents in pure polycrystalline samples.
Abstract: The critical current densities across grain boundaries have been measured as a function of misorientation angle in the basal plane of bicrystals of $\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ For small misorientation angles, the ratio of the grain-boundary critical current density to the bulk critical current density is roughly proportional to the inverse of the misorientation angle; for large angles, this ratio saturates to a value of about $\frac{1}{50}$ These results imply that achieving a high degree of texture both normal to and within the basal plane is important for the obtaining of very high critical currents in pure polycrystalline samples

1,284 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an analysis of ac impedance data using the complex impedance plane representation gives the dc resistance of polycrystalline barium titanate (PTCR) ceramics.
Abstract: Polycrystalline barium titanate that has been doped to give a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) effect is an inhomogeneous material electrically. Analysis of ac impedance data using the complex impedance plane representation gives the dc resistance of PTCR ceramics. By additional use of the complex electric modulus formalism to analyze the same data, the inhomogeneous nature of the ceramics may be probed. This reveals the presence of two, sometimes three elements in the equivalent circuit. Grain‐boundary and bulk effects may be distinguished from capacitance data: grain‐boundary effects have temperature‐independent capacitances, whereas bulk effects show a capacitance maximum at the Curie point and Curie–Weiss behavior above the Curie point. Both grain‐boundary and bulk effects appear to contribute to the PTCR effect. These results reveal limitations in current theories of the PTCR effect.

1,083 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a theory was presented which quantitatively accounts for the important features of conduction in ZnO-based metaloxide varistors, which predicts a varistor breakdown voltage of 3.2 V/grain boundary for n0=1017 carriers' cm−3 and T=300 K.
Abstract: A theory is presented which quantitatively accounts for the important features of conduction in ZnO‐based metal‐oxide varistors. This theory has no adjustable parameters. Using the known values of the ZnO band gap, donor concentration n0, and low‐voltage varistor leakage‐current activation energy, we predict a varistor breakdown voltage of ?3.2 V/grain boundary for n0=1017 carriers cm−3 and T=300 °K. This compares well with measurements on a single grain‐grain junction. The highly nonlinear varistor conduction derives from electron tunneling ’’triggered’’ by hole creation in the ZnO when the conduction band in the grain interior drops below the top of the valence band at the grain interface. The theory predicts coefficients of nonlinearity α=d (lnI)/d (lnV) as high as 50, or even 100.

427 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In PTC-type BaTiO3 ceramics, the grain boundary potential barriers can easily be made visible by means of cathodoluminescence in an electron-probe microanalyzer without having a voltage applied.
Abstract: In PTC‐type BaTiO3 ceramics the grain‐boundary potential barriers can easily be made visible by means of cathodoluminescence in an electron‐probe microanalyzer without having a voltage applied. The visualization can be explained in the context of our finding that the intensity of the cathodoluminescence radiation depends sensitively on the number of charge carriers present in the conduction band. Thus, in PTC‐type BaTiO3 ceramics, but not in undoped or reduced materials, the deficiency of conduction electrons in the depletion layers at the grain boundaries causes a blackening of the grain‐boundary regions. The blackening of the grain boundaries of our PTC ceramics also appears below the Curie point, thus demonstrating the existence of grain‐boundary barriers in this temperature range.

49 citations