Effects of Ag-La codoping on structure and electrical properties of BaTiO₃ powder

Ag-La codoped BaTiO₃ powders were prepared by sol-gel technology after the preparation of Ag-doped and La-doped BaTiO₃ powders. Variations in the structure, constitution, morphology, and electrical properties of the modified BaTiO₃ powders were characterized. It can be concluded that Ag-La codoping decreases the resistivity of the modified powders more significantly than Ag doping and La doping, respectively. The sample with the lowest resistivity was obtained by codoping with 0.1 at.% Ag and 0.3 at.% La, where the resistivity decreased to 7.13 × 10² Ω m from the value of 4.30 × 10⁹ Ω m of the undoped powder. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analyses indicate that the main phase of the codoped powders transitions from tetragonal to cubic with increasing La doping content. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations illustrate that codoping makes the particles distribute more equably. The relationship between the resistivity and the structure of the doped BaTiO₃ powders is discussed based on defect chemistry.