LAUSR

Abstract Electrical properties of the solid state sintered BaTiO 3 ceramics at 0.98 and 0.94 Ba/Ti molar ratio are investigated perhaps for the first time in the wide range of temperatures (40–700 °C) at 1 kHz frequency. The studies were focused to find the controlling parameters, resistance and understanding of the conduction process. BaTiO 3 ceramics were perovskite ferroelectric materials, showed cubic and tetragonal crystal structures ( Pm -3m, P4MM) at room temperature. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric analysis (TGA-DSC) revealed melting temperatures, weight losses and crystallization of the as ground powders. Curie temperature (T c ) increased from120–130 °C with decreasing Ba/Ti contents. Dielectric anomalies with relaxor behavior were observed. Resistivity decreased with increasing temperature, all specimens showed semiconductor behavior with negative temperature coefficient of resistivity (NTCR) characteristics. At 0.98 molar ratio, BaTiO 3 ceramics were found to be more conductive and less resistive. Conductivity followed Arrhenius Law with E a  = 0.2948–0.3284 and 0.967–1.189 eV which can be attributed to ionic conduction followed by single ionized and doubly ionized oxygen vacancies. Well defined hysteresis P-E loops under electric fields showed ferroelectric characteristics.