Ferroelectric phase transition in Ba4SrSmTi3V7O30 ceramics

Polycrystalline Ba₄SrSmTi₃V₇O₃₀ sample was prepared using high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. Preliminary X-ray structural analysis of the compound shows the formation of a single phase compound (orthorhombic crystal system) at room temperature. Microstructures of the compound exhibit uniform distribution of grains over the surface of the sample. Detailed studies of dielectric and electrical properties as a function of frequency (1 kHz to 1 MHz) and temperature (31 °C to 475 °C) show that, the compound exhibits a diffuse ferroelectric phase transition. Measurements of electrical conductivity (ac) as a function of temperature suggest that the compound has semiconducting properties much above the room temperature with a negative temperature coefficient of resistance behavior. The existence of ferroelectricity was confirmed from polarization studies.