Antimony doping effect on barium titanate structure and electrical properties

Nanopowders of pure and antimony doped barium titanate (BaTiO₃-BT) were synthesized by polymeric precursors method based on Pechini process. Obtained powders were pressed and sintered at 1300 °C for 8 h. XRD analysis showed the formation of cubic crystal structure in all nanopowders and tetragonal in BT ceramics. The influence of antimony concentration on structure change, grain size reduction and microstructure development was analyzed. Dielectric behavior of pure and antimony doped ceramics was studied as a function of temperature and frequency. The significant dielectric properties modification as a consequence of doping with different antimony concentration was noticed. The electrical resistivity measurements pointed out that antimony concentration influenced also on materials change from insulator to semiconductor.