Synthesis, structural and electrical properties of Ti modified Bi2Sn2O7 pyrochlore

Polycrystalline ceramic samples of Bi2Sn2−xTixO7 (x=0.00, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) have been synthesized by standard high temperature solid state reaction method. The effect of homovalent cation (titanium) substitution on the Sn-site on the structural and electrical properties of the pure Bi2Sn2O7 ceramic have been studied by X-ray diffraction followed by SEM, dielectric and dc conductivity studies. The structural analysis indicates that the increase of titanium contents do not lead to any secondary phase. The frequency and temperature dependent dielectric studies have been carried out. It is found that the Ti doping reduces the material particle size. The size of the particles are strongly influenced by the addition of titanium to the system. The substitution of Ti for Sn ions affected the degree of disorder and modified the dielectric properties leading to more resistive ceramic compounds. The activation energies of all the compounds were calculated using the relation σ=σ0exp(−Ea/kT).