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A novel approach to study the conductivity behavior of CaCu3Ti4O12 using scanning probe microscopy technique

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Abstract

Herein, we show that scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is an effective tool permitting to disclose the nature of the colossal dielectric permittivity characteristic of CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) compound. SPM data confirm the existence of micro- and nanoscale barrier layer capacitance mechanisms which simultaneously contribute to the electrical conductivity of the material. The former mechanism is associated with the potential grain-to-grain barriers. The latter mechanism involves the barriers created by intragrain structural defects. The results of the SPM study shed new light on the origin of the colossal dielectric constant in CCTO.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partly supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), through the projects UID/CTM/50025/2013 and UID/FIS/04564/2016, also co-funded by FEDER/COMPETE. M.S.I. and V.A.K. are grateful to the FCT for financial support through the projects CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000014 (MATIS) and IF/00819/2014/CP1223/CT0011. Access to TAIL-UC facility funded under QREN-Mais Centro project ICT_2009_02_012_1890 is acknowledged as well.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, CFisUC, University of Coimbra, P-3004-516, Coimbra, Portugal

    M. S. Ivanov, V. A. Khomchenko & J. A. Paixão

  2. College of Health Technology of Coimbra, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, P-3040-162, Coimbra, Portugal

    F. Amaral

  3. I3N and Physics Department, University of Aveiro, P-3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    F. Amaral & L. C. Costa

Authors
  1. M. S. Ivanov
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  2. F. Amaral
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  3. V. A. Khomchenko
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  4. L. C. Costa
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  5. J. A. Paixão
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. S. Ivanov.

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The supplementary material for this article can be found at {rs|https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2018.151|url|}.

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Ivanov, M.S., Amaral, F., Khomchenko, V.A. et al. A novel approach to study the conductivity behavior of CaCu3Ti4O12 using scanning probe microscopy technique. MRS Communications 8, 932–937 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2018.151

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