Electrical properties of Bi_1.5ZnSb_1.5O₇ pyrochlore ceramics

Abstract

Bi1.5ZnSb1.5O7 pyrochlore samples were prepared by solid state reaction method. They were examined by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Single phase, belongs to the cubic pyrochlore structure, with a lattice parameter of 10.442 Angstrom and grain size that varies from 16 to 20 mum was obtained. The electrical properties were measured at different temperatures in the range 15-330 K under different applied magnetic fields up 1.4 T. In our measurements for Hall coefficient, Hall resistivity, and mobility; we noticed an anomalous behavior at two temperatures (around 250 and 310 K) which was supported by the I-V measurements (double transition of the slope of I-V characteristics (beta) at the same temperatures). This was discussed in terms of polarization phenomenon and mixed ionic-electronic conduction. (C) 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.