Dielectric and impedance behavior of neodymium substituted strontium hexaferrite

In this study, dielectric behavior and complex impedance of neodymium (Nd) substituted strontium hexaferrite system: Sr1-xNdxFe12O19 (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0. 20), synthesized by citrate precursor technique, have been evaluated as a function of applied frequency and temperature. Variation of dielectric constant and dielectric loss with frequency shows the identical behavior for all the compositions. The value of dielectric constant increases with Nd doping. Relaxation process is observed in the composition x = 0.20, and the peaks in this composition shift toward the higher-frequency region as the temperature increases. The dielectric constants show temperature-independent behavior at low temperature, whereas at higher temperatures it increases for all the frequencies. The AC conductivity follows Jonscher's power law, showing that conduction mechanism is due to polaron hopping. Complex impedance as a function of composition and temperature is used to examine the role of grain and grain boundary in the prepared material. Cole-cole plot shows only one semicircle up to x = 0.15, while as for x = 0.20 two semicircles are observed. The conduction mechanism is explained on the basis of both grain and grain boundary.