Structure and Electrical Conductivity of Irradiated BaTiO₃ Nanoparticles

The effects of gamma irradiation on hydrothermally synthesized BaTiO₃ nanoparticles have been investigated. Gamma irradiation is carried out at room temperature from 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 kGy to maximum dosage up to 250 kGy with ⁶⁰Co source. Prepared BaTiO₃ nanoparticles are investigated using line profile analysis employing X-ray diffraction (XRD) data; the structure, size, dielectric and conductivity properties of the BaTiO₃ are studied using Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and impedance analyzer. The post-irradiation volume of the BaTiO₃ unit cell increases with dosage and most of the cells possess a modified tetragonal structure. The Grüneisen constant is high for 242 cm⁻¹ optical modes with 150 kGy and lowest for 516 cm⁻¹ optical mode for 50 kGy irradiation. The morphology changes and particle size decreases as the radiation dose is increased. Conductivity (σ) increases with the increase in radiation dose, especially at 50 kGy. Cole–Cole plot is suggestive of the depolarization nature of irradiated BaTiO₃ nanoparticles.