Dielectric properties of mechanically activated strontium titanate ceramics

Abstract

In this study, microstructure evolution and dielectric properties of SrTiO3 ceramic have been investigated, whereby mechanical activation of SrTiO3 powders was used to modify the functional properties of ceramic materials. Microstructural SEM analysis of SrTiO3 ceramics showed that the increase in mechanical activation time results in less porous samples. Raman spectroscopy indicated changes in the broadening and asymmetry of the TO2 mode with a change in the time of mechanical activation. TO2 mode showed a Fano asymmetry due to its interaction with polarization fluctuations in polar micro-regions, which are a consequence of the presence of oxygen vacancies caused by activation. The maximum value of dielectric permittivity was observed in the sample activated for 10 min. Also, the sample activated for 10 min exhibits relatively low values of loss tangent, compared to the other mechanically activated samples, providing the best overall dielectric performance compared to other samples.