Enhanced dielectric properties of bismuth titanate/silver composites

Bismuth titanate (BiT) based composites containing silver particles are fabricated by a solution chemical process. Incorporation of silver particles does not result in unwanted reaction phase. SEM micrographs reveal fine silver particles distribute at BiT grain boundaries and into larger BiT plate-like grains. With the addition of silver, the dielectric constant increases up to similar to 10 times higher than that of pure BiT ceramic, which can be attributed to the effective electric fields developed around the dispersed metal particles and the percolation effect. Additionally, the dielectric losses are significantly reduced by incorporating silver particles, and the values of BiT/Ag composites are lower than 0.5%. The dielectric properties of BiT/Ag composites are nearly frequency independent in the measured frequency range (1 kHz to 1 MHz).