High temperature structural, dielectric, and ion conduction properties of orthorhombic InVO₄

Abstract

Orthorhombic InVO₄ was prepared by solid-state reaction method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The frequency-dependent dielectric and conductivity properties were studied from 300 to 973 K by impedance spectroscopy. A significantly enhanced conductivity was observed at higher temperature whereas almost no conduction was observed below 723 K. Appreciable grain boundary conductivity was observed at higher temperature. The activation energies for grain and grain boundary conductivities are 0.87 and 1.28 eV, respectively. The relative permittivity of ~35 was observed in a wider range of frequencies and temperatures. The frequency dispersion dielectric studies indicated thermally activated hopping conduction process. The high temperature structural studies revealed no significant change in structural parameters except a gradual increasing trend in the unit cell parameters and amplitude of isotropic thermal parameters with increasing temperature.