Novel monoclinic zirconolite in Bi2O3–CuO–Ta2O5 ternary system: Phase equilibria, structural and electrical properties

Highlights: • Novel BCT monoclinic zirconolite phase was prepared through solid state reaction. • Comprehensive study of reaction mechanism was performed by careful firing control. • Qualitative structural and phase analyses were conducted. • Electrical response in broad range of temperature and frequency was investigated. - Abstract: Synthesis of novel monoclinic zirconolite, Bi1.92Cu0.08(Cu0.3Ta0.7)2O7.06 (β-BCT) using solid state reaction had been finalised at the firing temperature of 900 °C over 24 h. The X–ray diffraction pattern of β-BCT was fully indexed on a monoclinic symmetry, space group, C2/c with lattice constants, a = 13.1052 (8), b = 7.6749 (5), c = 12.162 (6), α = γ = 90° and β = 101.32° (1), respectively. The reaction mechanism study indicated phase formation was greatly influenced by the reaction between intermediate bismuth tantalate binary phases and CuO at elevated temperatures. β-BCT was thermally stable up to a temperature of 900 °C and contained spherulite grains with sizes ranging from 1 to 14 μm. Electrical properties of this material were characterised over a broad temperature range covering temperatures from 10 K to 874 K. At the temperature of 304 K, two semicircles were discernible in complex Cole–Cole plot showing an insulating grain boundary with Cgb = 6.63 × 10−9 F cm−1 and a bulk response capacitance, Cb = 6.74 × 10−12 F cm−1. The Power law frequency-dependent ac conductivity of β-BCT was apparent in three frequency regimes; a low–frequency plateau regime, a high-frequency plateau regime and a dispersive regime taking place in the temperature range of 220–576 K. The frequency-dependent ac conductivity of β-BCT with increasing temperature was attributed to the thermal activated electrical conduction mechanism within the structure