Structural and dielectric properties of A(Fe1/2Ta1/2)O3 [A = Ba, Sr, Ca]

The complex perovskite oxide barium iron tantalate (BFT), BaFe1/2Ta1/2O3, strontium iron tantalate (SFT), SrFe1/2Ta1/2O3 and calcium iron tantalate (CFT), CaFe1/2Ta1/2O3 are synthesized by a solid-state reaction technique. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction data of the samples shows that BFT and SFT crystallize in cubic structure, with lattice parameter a = 4.06 Å for BFT and 3.959 Å for SFT, whereas CFT crystallizes in orthorhombic structure having lattice parameters a = 5.443 Å, b = 5.542 Å and c = 7.757 Å. Fourier transform infrared spectra show two primary phonon modes of the samples at around 450 cm−1 and 620 cm−1. The compounds show significant frequency dispersion in its dielectric properties. The complex impedance plane plots of the samples show that the relaxation (conduction) mechanism in these materials is purely a bulk effect arising from the semiconductive grains. The relaxation mechanism of the samples is modelled by Cole–Cole equation. The frequency dependent conductivity spectra are found to follow the power law.