Effect of La, Zr Doping on the Structural and Electrical Conduction Behaviour of BiFeO3-BaTiO3 Ceramics

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the crystal structure and DC conduction mechanism of [(Ba_0.7-x La_x) Bi_0.3][(Ti_0.5 Zr_0.2) Fe_0.3]O₃ with x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 employing X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrical conductivity measurements. Various compositions were synthesized through the solid-state ceramic route. XRD was used to investigate phase formation. Analysis of XRD data suggested a structural transition from cubic to tetragonal for x ≥ 0.01. The average crystallite size first increases for x = 0.01 and then decreases for x ≥ 0.03. The temperature-dependent electrical conductivity measurements were investigated over a wide temperature range which revealed distinct conductivity mechanisms governing the material's transport properties. The activation energy (E_a) has been estimated from temperature-dependent DC conductivity. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the correlation between crystal structure and electrical properties in [(Ba_0.7-x La_x) Bi_0.3][(Ti_0.5 Zr_0.2) Fe_0.3]O₃, offering significant implications for its potential applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices requiring tailored conductivity characteristics.