Skip to main content
Log in

Excellent dielectric performance and nonlinear electrical behaviors of Zr-doped CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The dielectric and nonlinear current–voltage properties of CaCu3Ti4−xZr x O12 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) thin films prepared by the modified sol–gel method and annealed at 750 °C for 1 h were systematically studied. Zr doping resulted in a significant reduction in the mean grain size from 177.4 to 42.9 nm. The dielectric properties of the thin films increased significantly with the increase of Zr content from x = 0 to 0.2, indicating the importance of microstructure in controlling the dielectric properties of CaCu3Ti4−xZr x O12 thin films. A highly frequency-independent giant dielectric permittivity from 102 to 106 Hz was successfully achieved in CaCu3Ti3.8Zr0.2O12 thin film, which possessed a very high dielectric permittivity value of 7591 and a very low tanδ value of 0.023 at 1 kHz. The results indicated that reduction in the mean grain size affected the number of polarized ions per unit volume n0 (to improve ε′) and the number of grain boundaries (to reduce tanδ). CaCu3Ti3.75Zr0.15O12 thin film showed the highest nonlinear coefficient (5.8) and lowest leakage current (131 μA). In addition, the relaxation mechanism based on the internal barrier layer capacitance model and the back-to-back dual Schottky barrier model were used to explain the dielectric properties and the nonlinear electrical behaviors of the samples.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M.A. Subramanian, D. Li, N. Duan, B.A. Reisner, A.W. Sleight, J. Solid State Chem. 151, 323 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. A.P. Ramirez, M.A. Subramanian, M. Gardel, G. Blumberg, D. Li, T. Vogt, S.M. Shapiro, Solid State Commun. 115, 217 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M.A. Subramanian, A.W. Sleight, Solid State Sci. 33, 347 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. S.M. Moussa, B.J. Kennedy, Mater. Res. Bull. 36, 2525 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. C.C. Homes, T. Vogt, S.M. Shapiro, S. Wakimoto, A.P. Ramirez, Science 293, 673 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. D.C. Sinclair, T.B. Adams, F.D. Morrison, A.R. West, Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 2153 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. W.X. Yuan, S.K. Hark, H.Y. Xu, W.N. Mei, Solid State Sci. 14, 35 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. L. Singh, U.S. Rai, K. Mandal, B.C. Sin, S.I. Lee, Y. Lee, Ceram. Int. 40, 10073 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. L. Singh, B.C. Sin, I.W. Kim, K.D. Mandal, H. Chung, Y. Lee, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 99, 27 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. L. Singh, I.W. Kim, W.S. Woo, B.C. Sin, H.I. Lee, Y. Lee, Solid State Sci. 43, 35 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. R. Parra, R. Savu, L.A. Ramajo, M.A. Ponce, J.A. Varela, M.S. Castro, P.R. Bueno, E. Joanni, J. Solid State Chem. 183, 1209 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. K. He, Y. Luo, R. Yu, J. Qi, X. Sun, Y. Yang, H. Xu, J. Ma, D. Xu, Mater. Res. Bull. 69, 98 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. S. Wu, P. Liu, Y. Lai, W. Guan, Z. Huang, J. Han, Y. Xiang, W. Yi, Y. Zeng, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 27, 10336 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. S.Y. Chung, I.D. Kim, S.J. Kang, Nature Mater. 3, 774 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. D. Xu, L.Y. Shi, Z.H. Wu, Q.D. Zhong, X.X. Wu, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 29, 1789 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. D. Xu, D.M. Tang, L. Jiao, H.M. Yuan, G.P. Zhao, X.N. Cheng, J. Cent. S. Univ. 19, 2094 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. V.P.B. Marques, A. Ries, A.Z. Simões, M.A. Ramírez, J.A. Varela, E. Longo, Ceram. Int. 33, 1187 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. L.T. Mei, H. Hsing-I, T.T. Fang, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 91, 3735 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. T.B. Adams, D.C. Sinclair, A.R. West, Phys. Rev. B 73, 9 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  20. T. Ning, C. Chen, Y. Zhou, H. Lu, D. Zhang, H. Ming, G. Yang, Appl. Phys. A 94, 567 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. M. Xiao, Q. Hu, J. Alloys Compd. 652, 70 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. D. Xu, K. He, R. Yu, X. Sun, Y. Yang, H. Xu, H. Yuan, M. Jing, Mater. Chem. Phys. 153, 229 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. G. Zang, J. Zhang, P. Zheng, J. Wang, C. Wang, J. Phys. D 38, 1824 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. D. Xu, K. He, R. Yu, L. Jiao, H. Yuan, X. Sun, G. Zhao, H. Xu, X. Cheng, J. Alloys Compd. 592, 220 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. S.H. Lee, T.H. Jeoung, S.P. Nam, I.H. Im, J. Ceram. Process. Res. 17, 139 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  26. X. Zhao, L. Huang, S. Namuangruk, H. Hu, X. Hu, L. Shi, D. Zhang, Catal. Sci. Technol. 6, 5543 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. H. Hu, K. Zha, H. Li, L. Shi, D. Zhang, Appl. Surf. Sci. 387, 921 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. S. Cai, D. Zhang, L. Zhang, L. Huang, H. Li, R. Gao, L. Shi, J. Zhang, Catal. Sci. Technol. 4, 93 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. E.A. Patterson, S. Kwon, C.C. Huang, D.P. Cann, Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 323 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  30. S. Kwon, C.C. Huang, E.A. Patterson, D.P. Cann, E.F. Alberta, S. Kwon, W.S. Hackenberger, D.P. Cann, Mater. Lett. 62, 633 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. S. Jesurani, S. Kanagesan, M. Hashim, I. Ismail, I.R. Ibrahim, Adv. Mater. Sci. Eng. 2014, 2 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. L. Zhang, Y. Wu, X. Guo, Z. Wang, Y. Zou, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 23, 865 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. C.H. Zhang, K. Zhang, H.X. Xu, S. Qi, Y.T. Yang, R.H. Yu. D. Hong, X.N. Xu, T. Cheng, Nonferrous Metal. Soc. 22, s127 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. D. Xu, K. He, B.H. Chen, C.M. Xu, S.Y. Mu, L. Jiao, X.J. Sun, Prog. Nat. Sci.-Mater. 25, 399 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. S. Guillemet-Fritsch, T. Lebey, M. Boulos, B. Durand, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 26, 1245 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. J. Boonlakhorn, P. Kidkhunthod, P. Thongbai, S. Maensiri, Ceram. Int. 42, 8467 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. J. Jumpatam, A. Mooltang, B. Putasaeng, P. Kidkhunthod, N. Chanlek, P. Thongbai, S. Maensiri, Ceram. Int. 42, 16287 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Y. Pu, Y. Hu, P. Wang, Z. Sun, X. Liu, Z. Dong, Ceram. Int. 41, S818 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. T. Li, H. He, T. Zhang, B. Zhao, Z. Chen, H. Dai, R. Xue, Z. Chen, J. Alloys Compd. 684, 315 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Q.G. Chi, L. Gao, X. Wang, J.Q. Lin, J. Sun, Q.Q. Lei, J. Alloys Compd. 559, 45 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. A.A. Felix, M.O. Orlandi, J.A. Varela, Solid State Commun. 151, 1377 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. R. Xue, Z. Chen, H. Dai, D. Liu, T. Li, G. Zhao, Mater. Res. Bull. 66, 254 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. P. Liu, Y. Lai, Y. Zeng, S. Wu, Z. Huang, J. Han, J. Alloys Compd. 650, 59 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. P. Lunkenheimer, R. Fichtl, S.G. Ebbinghaus, A. Loidl, Phys. Rev. B 70, 3352 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. J. Sebald, S. Krohns, P. Lunkenheimer, S.G. Ebbinghaus, S. Riegg, A. Reller, A. Loidl, Solid State Commun. 150, 857 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. J.Q. Wang, X. Huang, X.H. Zheng, D.P. Tang, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 27, 1345 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. S. Krohns, P. Lunkenheimer, S.G. Ebbinghaus, A. Loidl, J. Appl. Phys. 103, 323 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. L. Singh, U.S. Rai, K.D. Mandal, J. Alloys Compd. 555, 176 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Y. Huang, D. Shi, Y. Li, G. Li, Q. Wang, L. Liu, L. Fang, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 24, 1994 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. M. Xiao, K. Wang, X.C. Yang, S. Xie, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 25, 2710 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. M. Xiao, P. Sheng, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 25, 1 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51572113).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan Song.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xu, D., Zhu, Y., Zhang, B. et al. Excellent dielectric performance and nonlinear electrical behaviors of Zr-doped CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 29, 5116–5123 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-017-8475-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-017-8475-0

Navigation