Structure and Electrical Conductivity of Irradiated BaTiO₃ Nanoparticles

Abstract

The effects of gamma irradiation on hydrothermally synthesized BaTiO 3 nanoparticles have been investigated. Gamma irradiation is carried out at room temperature from 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 kGy to maximum dosage up to 250 kGy with 60 Co source. Prepared BaTiO 3 nanoparticles are investigated using line profile analysis employing X-ray diffraction (XRD) data; the structure, size, dielectric and conductivity properties of the BaTiO 3 are studied using Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and impedance analyzer. The post-irradiation volume of the BaTiO 3 unit cell increases with dosage and most of the cells possess a modified tetragonal structure. The Grüneisen constant is high for 242 cm À1 optical modes with 150 kGy and lowest for 516 cm À1 optical mode for 50 kGy irradiation. The morphology changes and particle size decreases as the radiation dose is increased. Conductivity (σ) increases with the increase in radiation dose, especially at 50 kGy. Cole-Cole plot is suggestive of the depolarization nature of irradiated BaTiO 3 nanoparticles.