A.C. Permittivity and conductivity studies of Ni‑doped Pb levo‑tartrate crystals

Abstract

Lead Tartrate finds several applications such as an additive in gasoline to prevent knocking in motors, in synthesis of chiral molecules, and a combustion catalyst in solid propellant. To modify the properties of PbLT (lead levo-tartrate), the Ni addition is done. The lead nitrate and nickel nitrate solutions are used to grow Pb–Ni levo-tartrate (PbNiLT) crystals in silica gel medium. The amount of Ni and Pb is determined by EDAX. Powder XRD reveals the outcome of Ni addition on the lattice constants of PbLT crystals. The presence of certain functional groups is noticed by FTIR spectra. TGA suggests that Ni increases the thermal stability of PbNiLT crystals compared to PbLT crystals. The A.C. electrical characteristics of PbLT and PbNiLT such as dielectric, impedance, and modulus spectroscopy are studied. This reveals microstructural effect by adding Ni in PbLT crystals, and from the complex impedance Nyquist plots, the grain resistance R g , grain capacitance C g , and relaxation frequency values are obtained along with fitting with equivalent R–C circuit. The behavior of relaxation mechanism prevailing in the PbLT and PbNiLT crystals is explained