Comparative study of behavior of electrical conductivity in KI‒Al۲O۳ and KI‒TiO۲ heterostructure composites

AbstractThe present work reports development of binary KI–Al۲O۳ and KI–TiO۲-based nanocomposites using simple solid-state reaction method and is characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and impedance spectroscopy. The results show the effect of heterogeneously doped Al۲O۳ and TiO۲ on the ionic conductivity of pure KI which is moderately conductive. The results supported the composite development in which the interface layer portrays a significant part in governing the bulk properties of the compound. Improvement in electrical conductivity is seen in the incorporation of Al۲O۳ and TiO۲ dispersoid into the matrix of KI. With temperature, electrical conductivity increased and the activation energies were found to be decreasing. The activation energies for KI–Al۲O۳ and KI–TiO۲ systems were ۰.۲۲ eV and ۰.۲۱ eV, respectively, in the temperature range ۲۰‒۴۰۰ °C. Dielectric constant increases with the increase in temperature in the entire temperature range studied attributed to the phenomenon of distortion of electric charges.

Keywords:

Solid composites , x , ray diffraction , Impedance spectroscopy , Ionic conductivity , Dielectric constant