Influence of Grain and Grain Boundary Interfaces on Dielectric Relaxation of Ceria Nanocrystals Using Modulus Formalism Under Biased and Equilibrium Conditions

Dielectric relaxation of ceria nanocrystals under biased condition for different grain sizes was in this study evaluated in modulus formalism using impedance spectroscopy. Prior to the impedance measurements, the ceria sample was calcined at 200 °C for 30 min and pressed into cylindrical pellets with 8 mm diameter and 1 mm thick by applying uniaxial four-ton pressure using a hydraulic press. This was then sintered at 300 °C, 450 °C, 600 °C and 900 °C for 30 min. Systematic analysis of modulus formalism data using commercial Z-view and Z-plot software's permitted, reliable extraction of dielectric relaxation time (τ) of ceria nanocrystals. The observed dielectric relaxation time (τ) at equilibrium condition varied from 10–5 to 10–3 s when the grain size of ceria nanocrystals was increased from 9 nm to 29 nm. But when the DC bias voltage was applied, the same dielectric relaxation time (τ) was tuned to ∼10–4 s for all the grain sizes of ceria nanocrystals, because of Schottky grain boundary potential barrier height (φb) suppression.