Layered Aurivillius compound: Synthesis, characterization and electrical properties

In the present study, sol-gel citrate route was utilized to synthesize BIALVOX (Bi2AlxV1-xO5.5-x-δ) in the composition range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20. Powder X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses confirmed that the calcination of BIALVOX xerogels is fully completed at around 500 oC after 3 h of thermal treatment. It has been found that the stabilization of highly conducting γ-phase takes place for x ≥ 0.10. AC impedance spectroscopic investigation suggested that the charge accumulation at grain boundaries is more pronounced as compared to that at grain interiors. However, the maximum electrical conductivity (7.73 x 10-5 S cm-1) was noticed for BIALVOX.13 at 300 oC. The temperature dependence of dielectric permittivity was also reported.