Dielectric and Ferroelectric Studies on Gel Grown Samarium Tartrate (SmT) Crystals

Abstract

Samarium tartrate (SmT) single crystals have been grown by gel encapsulation technique. The crystallinity of the grown crystals was confirmed by XRD technique. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss and ac conductivity was measured as a function of frequency in the range 5 kHz to 1 MHz and temperature range 20 • C to 275 • C. Dielectric studies show a transition peak at temperature 240 • C. This transition peak is further supported by thermal and IR studies. The nature of the transition can be explained by the relation (1/ε − 1/ε max ) = A (T − T c ) γ and is reported to be diffused. The variation of ac conductivity with temperature and frequency has been reported and is represented by the relation σ ac = Aω s . The saturation polarization (P s ), remanent polarization (P r ) and coercive field (E c ) of the polarization -electric field hysteresis are reported for the material. The material (SmT) is proposed to be ferroelectric.