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Overlapping large polaron tunnelling (OLPT) type conduction mechanism in magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) ceramics

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Abstract

Conduction mechanism in magnesium ferrite ceramics using dc conductivity, dielectric, impedance and modulus spectroscopy over a wide temperature range (153–393 K) and frequency range (10–1–106 Hz) has been investigated. Temperature-dependent dc conductivity corresponds to Mott’s variable range hopping (VRH) below 313 K and Arrhenius type thermally activated conduction above 313 K. The relaxation frequencies from impedance and modulus spectra also show a similar trend with respect to temperature. AC conductivity follows Jonscher’s power-law (σac = σdc + Afs). The exponent s is found to depend on frequency and temperature exhibiting a minimum around 313 K and corresponds to conduction via overlapping large polaron tunnelling (OLPT).

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Acknowledgements

The use of facilities at the University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC), University of Delhi is gratefully acknowledged. Mr. Sudhanshu Kumar acknowledges the Junior research fellowship (JRF) and senior research fellowship (SRF) awarded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research India, India, vide No. 09/045(1595)/2018 -EMR-I.

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  1. Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Sudhanshu Kumar & K. Sreenivas

  2. Department of Physics, Amity Institute of Applied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, U.P., 201313, India

    A. K. Shukla

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Kumar, S., Shukla, A.K. & Sreenivas, K. Overlapping large polaron tunnelling (OLPT) type conduction mechanism in magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) ceramics. Appl. Phys. A 128, 381 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-022-05481-5

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