Relaxor behaviour of (Ba0·5Sr0·5)(Ti0·6Zr0·4)O3 ceramics

Ba0·5Sr0·5Ti0·6Zr0·4O3 ceramic has been prepared through solid state reaction route. X-ray diffraction shows that the sample has cubic perovskite structure with space group Pm-3m at room temperature. Temperature dependent dielectric study of the ceramic has been investigated in the frequency range 50 Hz-1 MHz. The density of the sample is determined using Archimedes’ principle and is found to be ∼99% of X-ray density. The dielectric study revealed diffuse phase transition of second order. A broad dielectric anomaly coupled with the shift of dielectric maxima toward a higher temperature with increasing frequency indicates the relaxor-type behaviour in the ceramics. The index of relaxation (γ) and the broadening parameter (Δ) were estimated from a linear fit of the modified Curie-Weiss law. The value of γ ∼ 1·72 indicates the strong relaxor nature of the ceramic. A remarkably good fit to the Vogel-Fulcher relation further supports such a relaxor nature.