Barium Titanate/Gadolinium Ferrite: A New Material Composite to Store Energy.

This work investigates the dielectric properties of barium titanate/gadolinium ferrite ceramic composites, with different concentrations of each material. Our objective was to increase the storage ability of this material, finding a compromise between high permittivity and low dielectric losses. A two-step sintering procedure was used in the preparation of the composites to attain the desired results. Their morphological, structural and electrical properties were tested using scanning electron microscopy, X-Ray powder diffraction and impedance spectroscopy, respectively. Dielectric characterizations were performed on the frequency band of 100 Hz-1 MHz and for different temperatures (180-380 K). The best compromise between barium titanate and gadolinium ferrite in the composition was calculated in order to obtain a potential material for electrical energy storage. The sample with 25% gadolinium ferrite presented the best results. The dielectric constant reached values of the order of 2000, at 1 kHz and 340 K. It was also important not to have very high losses, and this was confirmed by the calculated loss tangent.