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Review of the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) technique for characterizing dielectric materials

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Abstract

Atomic defects, particularly oxygen vacancies, affect the charge transport mechanisms and DC resistance changes in dielectric materials; therefore, their concentrations and distributions are crucial for understanding the electrical property deterioration of materials. The thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) technique has been introduced to investigate the behavior and characteristics of atomic defects in dielectric materials, which is one of the best and most widely used methods among various techniques. The relaxation type including dipoles, trap charges, and mobile ions, and the concentration of defects in dielectrics can be determined through information such as maximum temperature (Tm), and maximum current density (Jm) from each peak in the TSDC results and activation energy (Ea) calculated from the slope. In this review, an overview of the TSDC technique, including fundamental theory, characterizing procedures such as poling processes and current measurement during depolarization, an analytical method according to the variables, and applications to various dielectric systems, is presented.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF– 2023R1A2C2005864) and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co.

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  1. Hyunseok Song and J. Pundareekam Goud have contributed equally to this work.

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  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Korea

    Hyunseok Song, J. Pundareekam Goud, Jiwon Ye & Jungho Ryu

  2. Corporate R&D Institute, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Suwon, 16674, Korea

    Wonsik Jung & Jaehoon Ji

  3. Institute of Materials Technology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Korea

    Jungho Ryu

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Song, H., Goud, J.P., Ye, J. et al. Review of the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) technique for characterizing dielectric materials. J. Korean Ceram. Soc. 60, 747–759 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-023-00305-5

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