Dielectric relaxation of NdMnO3 nanoparticles

Graphical abstract: (a) TEM image of particle distribution of NMO. (b) HRTEM image of a single NMO particle under 4,000,000× magnification. (c) SAED pattern of a single NMO nanoparticle. - Highlights: • NdMnO3 nanoparticles are synthesized by sol–gel process. • TEM micrograph shows a granular characteristic with an average particle size of ∼50 nm. • HRTEM is consistent with the spacing between the (2 0 0) planes of the orthorhombic NdMnO3. • Band gap is found to be 4.4 eV. • Cole–Cole model has been used to explain the dielectric relaxation in the material. • The activation energy of the material is found to be ∼0.43 eV. - Abstract: The neodymium manganate (NdMnO3) nanoparticles are synthesized by the sol–gel process. The phase formation and particle size of the sample are determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The band gap of the material is obtained by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy using Tauc relation. Dielectric properties of the sample have been investigated in the frequency range from 42 Hz to 1 MHz and in the temperature range from 303 K to 573 K. The dielectric relaxation peaks are observed in the frequency dependent dielectric loss spectra. The Cole–Cole model is used to explain the dielectric relaxation mechanism of the material. The complex impedance plane plot confirms the existence of both the grain and grain-boundary contribution to the relaxation. The temperature dependence of both grain and grain-boundary resistances follow the Arrhenius law with the activation energy of 0.427 and 0.431 eV respectively. The frequency-dependent conductivity spectra follow the power law